Nepal is set to compete against a strong Kazakhstan team in their opening match of a tournament recognized under the FIVB world rankings. The match is part of the CAVB Men’s Volleyball Championship, beginning today in Islamabad, Pakistan. Nepal will face Kazakhstan at 10:45 a.m. Nepalese time, marking Nepal’s first participation in a competition with FIVB ranking status.
Led by captain Harihjur Thapa, the Nepalese team features a youthful lineup, with six players making their national team debut. Among the 14 Central Asian member nations, six teams are participating in this year’s CAVB Men’s Volleyball Championship, with the host Pakistan and Kazakhstan fielding particularly strong squads. Currently, Nepal is unranked in the FIVB standings, while Kazakhstan holds the 64th position.
Kazakhstan recently competed in the AVC Men’s Cup held in India, finishing fifth out of 11 teams. On the Nepalese side, alongside captain Harihjur Thapa and libero Vinod Chand—both possessing multiple international competition experiences—Sunil Bohara, Pehal Gahtaraj, Rabin Nagarkoti, and Nripdhwaj Basnet have each participated in one international tournament. The squad also includes six newcomers, including well-known domestic player Himal Sunaris.
