Nepal national women’s volleyball team suffered their first defeat of the 2024 CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League as they lost to a resilient Iran 2-3 at the National Sports Council’s covered hall in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Nepal were already assured a place in the semi-finals after Sri Lanka defeated the Maldives in straight sets of 25-22, 25-12, 25-12 earlier in the day.

Aruna Shahi’s team also arrived in the evening match brimming with confidence following their historic first ever victory over India.

But they were so reckless that they soon found themselves 16-10 behind and by the time they started caution it was already too late. Nepal could not recover and lost the set 25-16, which would cost them dearly.

Nepal started the second set strongly and took a 7-0 lead and got back in the game with a dominating 25-16 victory.

The hosts were also bright in the third set controlling the game 7-2 but Iran showed a remarkable recovery to level the set 9-9 before winning the competitive contest 25-23.

Nepal gathered themselves up in the fourth set and pushed the contest to a deciding fifth set with a comfortable 25-15 win.

But Iran floored Nepal with a calm performance and a disciplined defence, winning the fifth set 15-13.

The victory gave Iran seven points from four games.

Nepal have six points and a match in hand. They play the Maldives, who have already exited the competition after a three-match winless run, on Monday.

India have seven points and play Sri Lanka, on four points, in their last league game, also on Monday.