By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec 3: The dream of the Nepali women’s volleyball team of winning the gold medal at South Asian Games was shattered on Tuesday after they suffered 3-2 defeat at the hands of India in the women’s volleyball final held at National Sports Council (NSC) covered hall, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
The Nepali women went down fighting by 25-17, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 and 15-6 in the five-set thriller to their superior rivals, India.
The Nepali eves were very close to historical gold medal in the volleyball history after they had led 2-1 in first three sets. But they had failed to create the history after they failed to capitalize the lead and went down to India in the last two sets of the final.
Earlier, in the group stage, Nepal had lost to India in straight three sets.
The host, however, won the silver medal at the SAG, which is also the historical medal for the Nepal’s national women's volleyball team. Earlier, Nepal had won only three bronze medals at the SAG in 1999, 2006 and 2016.
Nepal conceded 25-17 defeat to India in the first set but made a dazzling comeback after they registered a 25-23 victory to level the set 1-1.
With a dazzling performance from Pratibha Mali, Nepali eves took the 2-1 lead after winning the third set by 25-21.
The physically and technically fit India women made a heroic comeback after they won the fourth set to level 2-2.
This was a first time Nepal national women's team had snatched two sets against India at any international volleyball event.
Nepal cruised to the final of the women's volleyball after beating Sri Lanka in the semifinals.
In the men’s volleyball final, India beat Pakistan 3-1. India concede the first set 20-25 but won the three sets 25-15, 25-17 and 29-27 to claim the gold medal.
The Nepali men’s volleyball team had crashed out in the group stage after suffering defeats from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.