Nepal’s women national volleyball team returned home on Thursday victorious after defending the AVC Asian Central Zone Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup.

The women’s national volleyball team edged Uzbekistan in a five-set thriller to defend the cup at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Led by captain Aruna Shahi and coach Jagadish Bhatta, Nepal had marched into the final securing top finish in the round-robin league format contest to eventually win their second international trophy.

A meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday decided to award Rs500,000 each to the 12-member team while Rs300,000 each will be awarded to the two coaches and Rs200,000 to an official.

The team was welcomed by Minister for Youth and Sports Maheshwor Jung Gahatraj, supporters and family members at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Here are some photos of the team receiving a hero’s welcome at the airport by Post’s photographer Hemant Shrestha.