TAPLEJUNG, May 7: Departmental teams -- Armed Police Force Club (APF), Tribhuvan Army Club, and Nepal Police Club -- and Gandaki Province have secured their respective quarterfinal spots during the third Paathivara Men’s Volleyball Tournament held in Taplejung on Monday.
Police defeated Province 1 in straight sets of 25-8, 25-18, 25-19 to advance to the next round. APF defeated Province 3 in another one-sided match of the day registering straight sets of 25-13, 25-13, 25-15 to secure their place in the pre-quarters. Similarly, departmental teams continued their domination on the day as Army decimated University Team in straight sets of 25-13, 25-13, 25-15.
Departmental teams, Gandaki into semis
Likewise, in the battle of the provincial teams, Gandaki overcame Province 1 in straight sets of 25-16, 26-17, 25-16.
Police will face Province 3 on the first quarterfinal of the day followed by APF versus Province 1. Similarly, Gandaki will face University Team and Army will clash against Province 2 to qualify for the semifinals. All the quarterfinal matches will be played on Tuesday.
The players have given positive reviews after playing in a mat court during the tournament according to Yagya Nidhi Paudel, the chief of District Sports Development Committee. This is the first time such court was used in three editions of Paathivara’s volleyball tournament. A total of Rs 900,000 was invested to lay the court, according to Diwash Chongwang, president of District Volleyball Association, Taplejung.
