Nepal Police Club (NPC) men’s team toiled hard to beat Gandaki Province in the Prime Minister Cup NVA Women’s and Men’s National Club Volleyball Championships, which kicked off on Saturday in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu.

Police were made to fight until the last set for victory, despite wins in the first two sets at the covered hall of National Sports Council. The departmental side won 25-11, 25-16 in the first and second sets and looked to be on course for a comfortable win, but they lost the third set 13-25.

Gandaki, bolstered by the presence of three overseas players, made a heroic comeback in the fourth set, overcoming a six points deficit. While Police required only one point for victory with a score of 24-19, Gandaki earned seven points in a row to win the set 26-24, pushing the match to the fifth and decisive set. Police then claimed the decisive set 15-10.

The outcome meant Police earned two points and Gandaki one point.

The men’s first match of the day saw Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) beat Sailung Baghdhunga Sports Club in straight sets—25-8, 25-13, 25-17.

In another match, Armed Police Force (APF) registered a straight-sets win over Dawali Milan Club with scores of 25-22, 25-13 and 25-23. The victory fetched APF three points while Dawali Milan remained without any points.

The women’s game saw the Nepal Police pull off a comfortable victory over Gandaki with scores of 25-10, 25-10, 25-11.

The champions in the men’s section will be guaranteed a place in the CAVA Club league Volleyball Championship to be held in December in Nepal.

Altogether seven teams are competing in the men’s event and six in the women’s. The men’s event features NPC, TAC, APF, Dawali Milan Club, Gandaki Province, Sailung Bagdhungha Sports Club and Tip Top Help Nepal.

The women’s events participants are NPC, APF, TAC, New Diamond Youth Sports Club, Everest Volleyball Club and Gandaki Province.

The expected cost of the tournament is Rs7.5 million, out of which the National Sports Council (NSC) will provide Rs4 million. The top four finishers in both the men’s and women’s section will bag Rs600,000, Rs300,000, Rs150,000 and Rs 75,000, respectively. The best players in the men’s and women’s section will get Rs35,000 each while the best server, setter, blocker, spiker, libero and coach will walk away with Rs 15,000 each.