Nepal School Volleyball Commission (NSVC) is all set to host the inaugural edition of the Pabson-SVC U-18 Volleyball Championships scheduled for October 29 to November 5.

The tournament is the first age-group event in volleyball history and brings together more than 350 spikers from across the country in the girls and boys categories. The girls’ tournament is a knockout event participated in by 16 teams—seven from outside the Kathmandu Valley.

The tournament also serves as players’ selection for the junior national team. According to NSVC President Ram Bahadur KC, the 24 best players from each category will be picked for closed camp training to form national teams.

“Initially, we will begin by preparing them for international events,” said KC. “The selected players could be from any part of Nepal. We will coordinate with the Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA) and provide them with scholarships in schools and colleges in Kathmandu. By doing this, we will be able to keep them continuously under in closed-camp training throughout the year,” informed KC who has high hopes from the tournament.

“We must believe that this tournament could be a turning point in Nepal’s domestic volleyball history. This is just a beginning and in due course, we will organise the U-16 and U-14 tournaments so that we can have good backup for national team in future,” added the NSVC President.

Bhanu Bhakta Memorial Boarding School of Mahottari, Meghauli Sports and Education Club of Chitwan, NSVC of Jhapa Everest Boarding School of Rupandehi, Shree Gaun Khelkud Vikas Samiti of Dang, Tops School of Kaski and NSVC of Kavre are the teams from outside the Kathmandu in the girl’ category.

Shivam New Diamond Academy, Paropakar School, Three Star Academy, Paramount English School, Bidabasini Boarding School, Maaf Volleyball Team, Glacier College, Springdale English Secondary Boarding School and Dhorpatan Volleyball Club are the teams from Kathmandu Valley.

The 23-team boys’ category will be a league-cum-knockout affair with the top teams from each of the eight pools making it to the quarter-finals. Gurashe Bhumi Yuba Club of Baglung, Bungtang Volleyball Team of Nuwakot, NSVC of Jhapa Kavre and Morang, Advance Academy of Dhading, Binayak English Boarding School of Dhanusha, Nepal Volleyball Association Gulmi, Little Buddha Academy of Kanchanpur, Surkhet Volleyball Association and Shree Sailung Ghayang Youth Club of Dolakha are the teams from outside Kathmandu Valley.

Secret Heart Academy, Himchuli Academy, Glacier, Namuna English School, Maaf, Three Star, Aruni School, Angel’s Heart High School, Springdale, Paramount, Dhorpatan and Newton High School are the team from Kathmandu Valley in the boys’ event.

NVA President Manoranjan Raman Sharma termed the NSVC effort a valiant one. “I must say that this is a valiant effort because it puts forward a lot of challenge to execute the plans that NSVC has come up with the U-18 tournament. If other organisations come up with such innovative ideas, NVA would be extremely happy to join hands together,” said Sharma. 

Top three finishers in both the categories will collect cash purse of Rs 100,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively, while cash prizes are also on offer for the best spiker, libero, defender and lifter.