KATHMANDU, Jan 10: Defending champion Armed Police Force and runner up New Diamond Sports Academy registered wins on Monday in the 12th Dhorpatan Women's Double League Volleyball Tournament being held in the capital.
New Diamond registered a comfortable win in straight sets restricting the opponents in the score of below four in all sets. New Diamond earned a 25-2, 25-3, 25-0 win over the opponent to maintain its lead in the tournament. The score of Bijeshwari turned to be lowest of any team in the ongoing tournament.
Following the win, New Diamond gave continuity to its top position in the standing with 12 points from four matches.
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APF overcame arch rival Nepal Police Club in 3-1 sets. After going down 20-25 in the first set, APF won three other sets 25-15, 25-16, 25-16. With the win, APF also maintained its cent percent winnings streak and stands second in the table with nine points. APF has a match advantage over New Diamond.
Despite winning the first set, Police coach Rupesh Bista lamented that his side lost other sets due to poor receive. “We made a bright start but could not make our defense vibrant.
The new players in the squad failed to resist pressure,” Bista said. “However, the overall performance of the team was satisfactory since new players are given major roles.”
Police has been fielding Mid Western Regional player Kamana Bista and Pushpa Chaudhary as spikers. Pushpa is the product of Police Club which has been hit by injury of main spiker Kopila Uprety.
Kopila is not fully fit after she sustained injury on the eve of Seventh National Games. She has picked injuries in right hand. “Kopila's injuries have also cost us dearly since she is experienced player of the squad. We have been fielding her to raise the confidence level of team though she is not fully fit and unable to play to her full potential.”
Police had claimed the Dhorpatan title five years ago. Last year, it stood third behind New Diamond. Gyanu Baba Higher Secondary School of Pokhara and APF are the most successful teams of the tournament. Gyanu Baba has won the title record five times while APF has been crowned champion in last four editions. New Diamond has finished runner up in all last four editions.
Meanwhile, another departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club edged past Chandeshwari 25-6, 25-19, 25-10.
Police, however, in its second match of the day, bruised aside the defeat suffer against APF defeating host Dhorpatan Sports Club 25-12, 25-10, 25-17. In another match, host Dhorpatan edged past Chandeshwari Youth Club in 3-2 sets while the later overcame junior team of New Diamond Sports Club in straight sets.