Bangladesh volleyballers off to sparkling start in CAVA Cup

Hosts Bangladesh's bid to clinch the trophy of the CAVA (Central Asian Volleyball Association) Cup got off to a flying start with an emphatic 3-0 win over the Maldives on the opening day at Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Bangladesh, who will now face Nepal on Thursday as six participating nations are playing in a round-robin tournament, initially faced a bit of a challenge from the islanders before taking the first game 25-21, and then comfortably winning the second 25-13.

The Maldives, however, once again produced some resistance in the third game, but Horosit and Co did not give them any room to bounce back, inflicting a 25-21 defeat to ensure a winning start to the competition.

Turkmenistan also registered a straight 3-0 win over Nepal, but the battle between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan was much more exciting, as Sri Lanka recorded a 3-2 win. Afghanistan bounced back in the second and third games after losing the first, but Sri Lanka then took control to win the fourth and fifth games and secure victory.

Earlier, secretary for the Youth and Sports Ministry Mahabub-Ul-Alam inaugurated the tournament as chief guest, while its additional secretary Selim Fakir, National Sports Council executive director Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Bangladesh Volleyball Federation president Farque Hasan were among those present.