Reigning champions Armed Police Force Club started their defence of the Women’s League title with a 0-0 draw against their departmental rivals Nepal Police Club at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur on Tuesday.

APF were the dominant side and kept Police under pressure throughout the match but could not find the breakthrough, despite coming close on a number of occasions.

The match was delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy downpour and both sides struggled to deal with the ball on a wet outfield.

APF—who boast star players and national team members Gita Rana, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Anita Basnet, Anita KC, Preeti Rai, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Saru Limbu and Sabita Rana Magar—kept Police in their own half most of the time but could not create any clear chances until 25th minute.

Sabita dispossessed Samjhana Lawati inside the penalty area and set up Ghising but Police’s Samikshya Ghimire came to the rescue to block Ghising’s right-footed volley midway.

Ghising also had an opportunity in the 28th minute when she found a free scoring opportunity from near the penalty spot but flashed wide.

Sabita found a golden opportunity to put APF in front in the 30th minute when she intercepted a poor goal kick from Ghimire and only had Police goalkeeper Usha Nath to beat but could not put the ball on the target.

The drab affair continued after the break, with Limbu’s long-range strike late in the game being the only notable effort.

APF are the champions of the past three editions (2017-18, 2021, 2022)—the league was not held in 2023.

Earlier in the afternoon, Chandrapur Municipality and Karnali Province played a 1-1 draw in the same venue.

Sunkala Rai put Karnali in front in the seventh minute with a superb volley after a defensive error from Chandrapur’s Sunita Sunar allowed her to charge from outside the box.

But Rajani Thokar levelled the game in the fourth minute of the first half injury time, beautifully executing a counter attack.

Tribhuvan Army Club and Sankata vie against each other on Wednesday.