October 5, Butwal – The Nepal Police Club, a departmental team, clinched the title in the second edition of the Madan Bhandari International Invitational Running Shield Men’s Volleyball Tournament. In the final held on Saturday at the BICC Conference Center in Butwal, Nepal Police defeated Sabhapokhari Volleyball Club from Sankhuwasabha in straight sets 3–0 to claim the championship. The Police secured victory with scores of 25–23, 25–23, and 25–22.
Despite having Indian players and a strong performance during the league stage, Sabhapokhari fell short in the final against the Police, who demonstrated excellent pressure play throughout the match.
Along with the title, Nepal Police received a prize of NPR 700,000. The runner-up, Sabhapokhari, was awarded NPR 350,000. Departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) Club finished in third place. In the third-place playoff held on Saturday, APF defeated Khaira Volleyball Club from Punjab in a 3–1 set win, taking the match 18–25, 25–19, 25–13, 25–11.
For securing third place, APF received NPR 175,000, while fourth-placed Khaira Volleyball Club was awarded NPR 75,000 as a consolation prize.
The tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) was Police’s attacker Gahatraj, who received NPR 15,000. In departmental awards, Saroj Bardewa of APF was named Best Spiker; Balram Gurung of Police was Best Setter; Resham Chhantyal of Police was Best Server; Sibansen Bhi of Sabhapokhari was Best Blocker; Santosh Rai of Sabhapokhari was Best Defender; and Chandra Kunwar of Police was selected as Best Coach. Each outstanding player was awarded NPR 8,000.
Prizes were presented by Lumbini Province Minister for Youth and Sports Ramji Ghimire, former minister and CPN-UML leader Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Provincial Assembly members Bhoj Prasad Shrestha and Bishnu Panthi, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan Deputy Mayor Savitra Aryal, and Madan Bhandari Sports Academy President Dhruv Acharya. The tournament began on September 28 and featured seven teams in total, including three from abroad and four from Nepal.
