In the final played on Saturday, the Gyanu Baba defeated Police 3 sets to1. The victory ensured the local team a cash prize of Rs 1,11,111 along with trophy while Police returned home with Rs 50,555.[break]
Last year the Police had defeated Gyanu Baba in the final of the same tournament.
Despite losing the first set 24-26, Gyanu Baba made comeback in three other successive sets. Gyanu Baba won the second, third and fourth sets 28-26, 26-24, 25-22 in the competitive final.
In the third place playoff, Armed Police Force (APF) edged past Fishtail Higher Secondary School 25-16, 11-25, 25-17, 25-15. APF bagged a purse of Rs 20,222 and Fishtail received Rs 10,111.
Parikshya Gurung of Gyanu Baba was declared the best player of the tournament and was awarded with a mobile set. APF´s Binita Budathoki was declared the best setter while police player Kopila Upreti and Sushila Thapa were declared the best quicker and server respectively. Khusi Khadka and Manju Gurung of winner Gyanu Baba got the best blocker and defense award while best spiker´s award went to APF´s Nima Shrestha.
The five-day tournament organized by Western Regional Volleyball Association featured nine teams in total including two from India.
Meanwhile, lyricist Arju Bista ´Salyani´ who is also the news coordinator of Radio Annapurna, a local radio station of Pokhara, was honored in the same program for his contribution to volleyball. Salyani had written volleyball song entitled Lau Aayo Volleyball a decade ago.
Binod Baniya, who composed and lent voice to the song, was also honored at the function. Nawa Adarsha Club of Lamachaur that has been organizing women´s volleyball each year on the occasion of Teej festival was also honored at the program.
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