The title favorite duo of Neeta Shah and Chuda Khadka defeated NPC ´B´ that comprised of Parbati Aryal and Shushila Thapa 21-17, 12-21, 15-6 in the final played under the scorching heat.[break]
"We played the second set in a relaxed mood since we were taking on our junior club-mates but we felt the urgency in the third set and played attacking game to win it easily," said Shah.
"People call our pair the senior beach volleyball team and Nepal No 1. We proved it right today (on Thursday)," said Khadka.
The duo of Shah and Khadka had won bronze medals during the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship and South Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in the past.
Parbati Aryal was the crowd favorite in the three-day tournament and she was cheered as ´Paru.. Paru…´ every time she played. However, Aryal was not disappointed with the final result.
"I´m pleased by the crowd support. We performed to the best of our abilities and are happy to give a tough fight to our senior teammates," said Aryal.
Earlier, Western Region ´A´ comprising Manju Gurung and Sipora Gurung thrashed Nepal APF Cub ´A´ comprising Nima Shrestha and Binita Budhathoki 21-10, 21-13 in the third place playoff.
"We met title contender NPC ´A´ in the semifinal. Had we not met them in the semis we could have reached the final," said Manju Gurung.
"It was our first beach tournament and we are encouraged to finish third," added Sipora Gurung.
Western ´A´ had lost 12-21, 12-21 against NPC ´A´ in the semifinal. In the second semifinal, NPC ´B´ got a tough fight from APF ´A´ but managed to win the match 21-19, 21-19.
The winner received Rs 10,000 while the runner-up got Rs 7000. Third placed Western ´A´ bagged Rs 5000 and semifinalist APF ´A´ received Rs 3000.
Nepal Volleyball Association President Ganga Bahadur Thapa, Nepal Volleyball Association Women´s Commission President Niroj Maskey, Regional Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Chitwan President Shankar Sainju handed over the awards to the winners.
The tournament was organized by the Women´s Commission and the HAN, Chitwan to mark the Tourism Year 2011 and boost beach volleyball in Nepal. Altogether 12 teams had participated in the tournament.
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