Semifinal Lineup Set for Kavha Women’s Volleyball Championship
Although the four semifinalist teams have been decided, group stage matches are still ongoing. Remaining teams will compete to determine final rankings, with the semifinals scheduled for 14 Jestha. Fans eagerly await these matches. The host country Nepal has secured a semifinal spot and will face former champion Iran. In the other semifinal, Group A winner India will take on Group B runner-up Kazakhstan.
With two consecutive wins in the tournament, the home team Nepal has improved to 54th place in the FIVB world rankings. As of 12 Jestha in Kathmandu, the group stages of the Kavha Women’s Volleyball Championship have concluded and the semifinal slots finalized. This Central Asian competition features eight teams: Group A’s winner India and runner-up Nepal, and Group B’s winner Iran and runner-up Kazakhstan have advanced to the semifinals.
On Tuesday, India defeated Kyrgyzstan and Iran overcame Kazakhstan in straight sets, confirming the semifinalists. Thus, Group A winner India will face Group B runner-up Kazakhstan in one semifinal, while Group A runner-up Nepal will contend with Group B winner Iran. India topped Group A with three wins accumulating 8 points. Their match against Nepal extended to five sets, leading to a shared point. Nepal finished second with 7 points, having won two matches and lost one.
In Group B, Iran convincingly defeated Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh with 3-0 set victories, securing 9 points and first place. Kazakhstan earned 6 points through two wins, standing second. Sri Lanka gained 3 points with one win and two losses, while winless Bangladesh finished last. The top two teams from each group earned semifinal spots, while the remaining teams will contest playoffs based on their rankings.
Following these matches, the semifinals will be held Thursday. The first semifinal between India and Kazakhstan will kick off at 2:30 PM, followed by the second semifinal featuring Iran against Nepal at 5 PM. Iran is a former champion of this tournament. Initiated in 2024 as the Kavha Women’s Challenge Cup in Kathmandu, this is the competition’s third edition with some changes to its format and naming.
The first edition included only four teams, where Iran defeated the host Uzbekistan in the final to claim the title. This time, former winners India and Iran, one-time runner-up Nepal, and Kazakhstan—highest ranked according to FIVB—are participating. All these teams are gearing up with the ambition to win the championship. Nepal’s head coach Jagdish Bhatt noted that all players were given opportunities during the group phase and semifinal tactics will be accordingly adjusted.
Coach Bhatt highlighted Iran’s team quality and strong defensive system. After clinching the Group B top spot by beating Kazakhstan on Monday, Iran is buoyant. Iranian player Safeenud Dastbarjan commented that Nepal’s home crowd support will make the match more challenging. She said they view the Kavha Women’s Volleyball Championship as preparation for the AVC Cup and aim to win the remaining two matches and the title. Conversely, Kazakhstan’s Kristina Belova acknowledged her own mistakes led to their loss against Iran and expressed determination to correct errors and perform better against India in the semifinals.
Among the four semifinalists, Kazakhstan ranks highest at 36th in the FIVB world rankings, while India is ranked lowest at 62nd. Iran stands 44th and Nepal 54th. Since the tournament is recognized by FIVB for world ranking points, Nepal secured its first ranking position after the opening match. Although Nepal initially ranked 62nd after the game against India, two subsequent wins have elevated them to 54th.