In the second week of September, players from Thailand, the Netherlands, Russia, and even Brazil are arriving in Nepal to compete in the second edition of the Vatsalya Everest Women’s Volleyball League (EWVL), which will be held in Pokhara.
The EWVL, which began last year as the first franchise volleyball league in Nepal’s history, will take place from September 5 to 13 at Pokhara’s Multi-purpose Covered Hall.
The organisers, Infinity Dreams, said that in line with their goal of decentralisation, they are holding the second edition outside the Valley.
Six franchise teams will compete in this edition. For the first time in Nepal’s volleyball history, players were auctioned for team selection this year.
The six franchise teams participating in the league are actively signing foreign players, with some already announced publicly, and several have already arrived in Nepal.
This year, the defending champions Karnali Yashvis, along with Madhesh United, Kathmandu Spikers, and Lalitpur Queens, are continuing from the first edition. Replacing Gandaki Thunders is Pokhara Ninjas, while Lumbini Lavaz has entered as a new team in place of Chitwan Shakti.
Each team can sign up to three foreign players. In the first edition, 18 international players from Asia, Europe, Africa, and America came to Kathmandu, which brought the Everest Women’s Volleyball League widespread recognition at home and abroad.
This time too, 18 foreign players will participate. For the first time, female volleyball players from Brazil will also come to Nepal. Similarly, players from the Netherlands will also join this edition.
So far, Lalitpur Queens (last edition’s runners-up), Madhesh United, Kathmandu Spikers, and Lumbini Lavaz have each signed three foreign players. Pokhara Ninjas also have three, while Karnali Yashvis have signed two and are yet to recruit one more.
Since the first edition, the arrival of foreign players in Nepal has boosted the league’s popularity. Fans were curious about which foreign players would come this time, and how many would return from the previous edition.
Now that curiosity is nearly settled, apart from two Thai players with Lalitpur Queens who also played last year, all others are new.
This year, most players are from Thailand, the Netherlands, Russia, and Brazil. The global volleyball giants Brazil and the Netherlands are sending players to Nepal for the first time.
In addition, players from Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, the United States, and Kazakhstan have also been signed to various teams. Unlike the first edition, which had players from neighbouring India, this time there are none. Instead, new arrivals include athletes from the USA, Bulgaria, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, and Serbia.
By continent, players are arriving from Asia, Europe, and the Americas (both North and Latin).
So far, the Netherlands and Thailand have the most players, three each, followed by two each from Russia and Brazil. One player each has been signed from the USA, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria.
The foreign players signed for the Everest Women’s Volleyball League are highly enthusiastic about playing in Nepal. Many of them are visiting Nepal for the first time, which has added to their excitement.
Karnali Yashvis
The defending champions, Karnali Yashvis, have signed players from Latin America this season. So far, they have recruited two foreign players: setter Ana Flavia and outside hitter Mayra Vitoria.
Under the captaincy of Sumitra Regmi, Karnali remained undefeated to win the title in the first season. They still have one more foreign player slot to fill.
Other Nepali players in the team include Safiya Pun, Pooja Tharu, Jasna Mahato, Rashmita Dura, Nevica Chaudhary, Revika Lama Tamang, and Alisa Bhujel.
Lalitpur Queens
Last year’s runners-up, Lalitpur Queens, have once again recruited three Thai players.
They have retained outside hitter Waranya Srilaoong and setter Prathathip Santrakul, both of whom were key in leading Lalitpur Queens to the finals last season.
Replacing Thai player Sutadta Chuewulim is another Thai national team member, outside hitter Darin Pinsuwan.
The team’s marquee player is Nepal’s national player libero Salina Shrestha. Other players include Sangam Mahato, Laxmi Chand, Salina Budha Magar, Sunita Rai, Nisha Chaudhary, Srishti Khadgi, and Bhawana Dangi.
Madhesh United
Having finished last in the first edition without winning a single match, Madhesh United has aggressively signed foreign players this time.
They have recruited three players from the Netherlands: outside hitters Romy Veenstra and Kirsten Wessels, and setter Danique Aardema.
The signing strategy reflects the influence of their new head coach, former national team player Kopila Upreti, who has professional connections in the Netherlands from her previous visits.
The team’s marquee player is Nepal’s spiker Niruta Thagunna. Other players include Aarati Subedi, Kopila Rana, Saraswati Kattel, Usha Bista, Babita Bohara, Basanti Saud, and Sneha Thagunna.
Kathmandu Spikers
Kathmandu Spikers, who finished third in the first edition, aim to perform even better this year.
They have signed players from Italy, Bulgaria, and Kazakhstan: Italian middle blocker/outside hitter Oumayma Codiall, Bulgarian setter Nikolaeva Nekova, and Kazakh opposite hitter Alena Kolotigina.
Nepal’s main spiker, Usha Bhandari, is the marquee player. Other team members include Manisha Chaudhary, Yamuna Rasailee, Rima Kunwar, Balmilka Acharya, Kamala Pun, Ashika Kshetri, and Bhuvaneshwori Chand.
Lumbini Lavaz
Lumbini Lavaz is a new team in this edition, replacing Chitwan Shakti. They have appointed national team captain Aruna Shahi as their marquee player (she was previously marquee for Chitwan Shakti).
They have strengthened their team with three foreign signings, two Russians and one Kyrgyz: Russian outside hitters Veronika Zubareva and Kseniya Tishina, along with Kyrgyz player Oguloi Kudai Kulova.
Other Nepali players include Kamana Bista, Shantikala Tamang, Elisha Manandhar, Jenisha Bishwakarma, Anusha Chaudhary, Roma Mahato, and Rikjana Majhi. Additionally, they signed Janaki KC through a talent hunt program.
Pokhara Ninjas
Pokhara Ninjas is another new team this season, representing Gandaki Province (previously Gandaki Thunders). Their marquee player is young setter Pragati Nath.
They signed Serbian outside hitter Ljubica Kecman, American outside hitter Adeola Owokoniran, and Croatian middle blocker Leo Boban.
All three foreigners had already arrived in Nepal, though Kecman had to suddenly return to Serbia due to personal reasons.
Other players in the squad include Kamana Bista, Mina Sunar, Sunita Khatri, Garima Bohara, Anjila Pradhan, Nisha Mahar, and Bhawana Tamang.
