Nepal Police dethrone APF to clinch National Men’s Volleyball title

By Navin Subedi,Surkhet, Jan. 12: Nepal Police Club won the 34th edition of the National Men’s Volleyball Competition held in Birendranagar, Surkhet, defeating Armed Police Force (APF) Club 3-1 in the finals on Thursday.

APF had reached the finals remaining undefeated throughout the competition. Police had earlier lost its match against APF in the 15th group match of the edition. However, the only loss of the tournament cost APF the trophy in front of a massive crowd at Khullamanch in Birendranagar. People were seen sitting on verandas and terraces of nearby houses and on the top of several buses parked around the court acting as parapets. 

While thousands were present on the ground to see the final match, thousands more were viewing it on Hamro Khelkud’s Facebook page. 

Title-defender APF as the undefeated team clinched the first set in the final match. However, Police made an exceptional comeback and won the next three sets to clinch 

the trophy.

It was the first tournament win for Nepal Police in volleyball in the ongoing Nepali Year 2080 despite qualifying for the finals in a total of seven tournaments, including the current one.

APF defeated Police 25-22 in the first set. But the hopes of APF started shaking as Police defeated APF in the second set 25-19. Moreover, APF lost 18-25 in the third.  The fourth set was the most competitive one. Nevertheless, it ended 25-23 in favour of Police. After winning three sets, Nepal Police Club was announced as the winner.  

Police’s spikers Rabin Chand and Pahal Gahatraj were adjudged the best player and emerging player of the tournament respectively. Likewise, Hemanta Malla of APF, Im Bahadur Rana of Police, Rabin Nagarkoti of Police, Jeevan Sunar of Gandaki, Bhim Bahadur Gaha of Police and Chandra Kunwar of Police were declared as the best spiker, setter, blocker, server, libero and 

coach respectively.

On the other hand, Gandaki won against Tribhuwan Army in the match for third place on Thursday. Army could only win one set while Gandaki won three. In the group stage, Army defeated Gandaki by winning the first three sets.

Meanwhile, the match for third place ended as Gandaki won the first set by 25-22 and the third and fourth sets by 26-24 and 25-22 respectively. Army only won the second set with the score 26-24.

The competition started on January 5 between 10 teams – three departmental and seven provincial teams – in a league format by forming two groups of five teams each. The top teams of the two groups played the semi-finals against the second-positioned teams in the opposite group.

Group A topper APF won its semi-final match against Gandaki and Group A runners up Police defeated Tribhuwan Army Club in the other last four match on Wednesday.