Nepal made a slow start and lost the first set 15-25 and fought hard to win the second 25-21. Nepal then lost the third set 23-25 but came out all strong to wrap up the fourth set 25-16. Emboldened Nepal sealed a 15-11 victory in the deciding fifth set.
Man-of-the-match and open spiker Sanjay Aryal scored highest 22 points for Nepal while quicker Rajkumar Thapa and open spiker Kul Bahadur Thapa bagged 13 points apiece.
Following Nepal’s victory coach Kapil Kishor Shrestha was lifted up in the air by jubilant team members.
Bangladesh reaches SAFF U-18 semifinals after India stalemate
“We had a wonderful match today. We cannot be more happy with this achievement as we are aware about our circumstances. We were weak in block and lift in the first two sets, but we regained our composure in the third and fourth. Their open spikers had no space after that. We gained confidence and hit them in the last set.”
Nepal will take on Turkmenistan in the semifinal on Wednesday. Nepal, which lost to the Maldives on Monday, finisher group B runner-up with five points, one behind the Maldives.
“Turkmenistan has physical as well as psychological advantage over Nepal. They are phenomenal in all departments. But we defeated Kyrgyzstan and this has fueled us with great motivation. Though our coordination is not sound, we are hopeful about reaching final,” said Shrestha.
Meanwhile, an elated Nepali supporter jumped at the court from parapet in celebration of the team’s victory which cost him dear. The young supporter with Nepal’s flag in his hand, who is yet to be identified, had his head broken and was rushed to a nearby hospital. According to Bangladesh volleyball authority, he is out of danger and gained consciousness.
_20230315092704.jpg)
