Nepal national women’s volleyball team’s hopes to win a first major international trophy at home were deferred again as they lost to India 3-2 in the final of the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League at the National Sports Council covered hall in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

This was the second time Nepal were facing off India in the title match at home and first since the 13th South Asian Games.

The hosts had defeated India 25-18, 12-25, 25-17, 18-25, 15-13 in the league stage to register their first ever victory over their South Asian rivals, and a revenge victory over a strong Iran in the semi-finals had injected them with fresh hopes that they would finally become able to end their drought.

But India came from behind twice and completely controlled the fifth and deciding set to complete a 23-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 15-5 victory over the two-time CAVA Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup champions, repeating the feat of the 13th SAG final.

Niruta Thagunna, who had won 22 points for Nepal in their group stage victory against India, was outstanding on Wednesday as well. She ran the early show in the first set earning three consecutive points. But India took advantage of Nepal’s defensive lapses to reach closer to match point on 23-20 despite Usha Bhandari’s impressive moves. Nepal showed a remarkable recovery late in the first set with help from Saraswati Chaudhary’s piercing spikes and earned five straight points to take a 1-0 lead.

Nepal's display in the second set was full of errors. The Indians controlled the second set with a relentless attack, foiling Nepal’s blocks and defensive efforts before levelling the game with a comfortable 14-25 victory.

Nepal reignited their bid for the title in the third set as they never allowed India to overhaul them. Although India threatened late, reducing the deficit to 24-22, Chaudhary and Thagunna stood up to reclaim the match lead.

India were in a do-or-die position in the fourth set and showed Nepal their true identity with their rock-solid defence and aggression which neturalised Nepal, thanks to brilliance from captain Soorya and Shalini Sarvanan.

There were still hopes for Nepal but the hosts ran out of steam in the hour of need as India stopped them on five points.

Nepal and India were meeting for the 11th time since the eighth South Asian Games in 1999 in Kathmandu.

Nepal had lost to India in straight sets in their first six meetings—which included the Eighth SAG, 10th SAG, 12th SAG, two friendlies in 2017 and the group stage clash in the 13th SAG.

But their tussle for supremacy began after the 13th SAG final, where Nepal lost 17-25, 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 6-15 to India in the gold medal match.

Nepal also lost to India 12-25, 24-26, 25-21, 21-25 in the CAVA Women’s Challenge Cup last year and 23-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-17 at the 2022 Asian Games.

Although Nepal could not kiss the trophy that they so dearly wanted, Aruna Shahi’s team have finally been able to break the shackles of India’s one-sided dominance, which is a positive to take from the tournament.

Iran claimed the third position with a 25-22, 28-26, 25-17 victory over Sri Lanka.