Auction for Nepal Volleyball League Takes Place Today

The auction for the inaugural Men’s Nepal Volleyball League (NVL), organized by Kedia Group, is set to take place today. Featuring six teams, the league is scheduled to commence in the second week of Bhadra (August-September). The player auction will be held in Kathmandu, where the participating six franchise teams will select seven players each from a shortlist of 129 athletes.

The competition is set to begin on Bhadra 12 (approximately late August) at the Covered Hall in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. This marks the second volleyball auction in Nepal’s history – following last year’s women’s Everest Women’s Volleyball League auction, held prior to its second edition.

The six franchises participating in NVL include Sagarmatha Smashers, Madhesh Warriors, Kathmandu Reds, Annapurna Spiker Kings, Karnali Shivraj, and Khaptad Falcons. The organizers shortlisted 129 players divided into two categories for the auction: Category A with 56 players and Category B with 63 players.

Each franchise is expected to sign seven players through the auction, drafting four from Category A and three from Category B. Additionally, each team has pre-contracted their marquee player: Sagarmatha Smashers have Harihar Thapa, Madhesh Warriors have Rabin Nagarkoti, Kathmandu Reds have Sunil Bohara, Annapurna Spiker Kings have Himal Sunari, Karnali Shivraj have Pahal Gahatraj, and Khaptad Falcons have Dhiraj Basnet.

The minimum bid for Category A players is NPR 100,000 with a maximum of NPR 120,000, while Category B players have a minimum base price of NPR 50,000 and a maximum of NPR 70,000. Each NVL team roster will include 12 players in total: nine Nepali players including the marquee, and three foreign players. Moreover, every team is required to select one player through a Talent Hunt program.