Central Asian Men’s Volleyball Challenge Cup Sri Lanka start campaign with a bang; beat Saudi Arabia 3 sets to nil

By Althaf Nawaz

Defending champions Sri Lanka started their campaign with a bang by defeating Saudi Arabia 3 sets to nil in the curtain raiser of the Central Asian Men’s Volleyball Challenge Cup (CAVA) at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. 

The Lankan lads put pressure from the outset and never allowed their rivals to bounce back into the game. The Lankan lions held their nerve and maintained the momentum to clinch a convincing victory over the Saudi lads who were outplayed in all departments. The losers managed to fight back in the third set, which they lost 24-26, while the winners won the first two sets comfortably 25-19 and 25-17. 

Meanwhile, in the other match Afghanistan had a nerve tingling 3 sets 2 victory over Uzbekistan. The winners won the first two sets and the last, while the losers managed to notch up wins in the third and the fourth sets but failed maintain their winning streak amidst the firepower of the Afghans. The final scorecard read 25-17, 26-24, 26-28, 22-25 and 15-13. In the third and the final game of the day, last years Runner-up Bangladesh lost to Nepal 3 sets 1. The score card read: 25-20, 19-25, 25-23 and 25-21.

The colourful opening ceremony was under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at 3 p.m. The occasion was also graced by CAVA President Latheef and all the Ambassadors of the participating teams, namely Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation President Kanchana Jayarathna, SLVF General Secretary A.S. Nalaka, SLVF Treasurer G.D.T.S. Perera, all the Vice Presidents of SLVF and the Executive Committee Members too graced the opening ceremony.