Before 3 pm, the area around the covered hall at Dasarath Stadium in Tripureshwar starts getting busy. Fans holding tickets begin arriving at the venue.
By 4 pm, the match kicks off. Each point scored through a spike, block, or serve draws hooting and chanting from the stands. Even after the match ends, discussion of volleyball continues outside the hall, with fans crowding around their favourite players for selfies and photos.
At the centre of this new atmosphere in Nepali volleyball is the Nepal Volleyball League (NVL).
Nepal’s first-ever franchise league in men’s volleyball has fueled a volleyball craze both on and off the court, alongside thrilling competition within it.
The arrival of top foreign players, spirited performances by Nepali athletes, and enthusiastic crowds have kept the NVL in the spotlight since day one, further broadening the buzz around the sport.
Some spectators are watching volleyball for the first time, while others are regular followers of Nepali volleyball.
“I never imagined volleyball could generate this level of craze. It was a really fun atmosphere,” says one spectator of NVL. “The game is really fast-paced, and we got to see excellent performances from the foreign players too.”
Nepali fans, who previously watched only national team matches and major volleyball tournaments, have now become supporters of their region’s franchise team. Some are cheering for the team of their favourite player.
The different teams, players, and styles seen in the NVL have drawn spectators closer to the sport.
Organised for the first time by Kedia Group, the NVL features six franchise teams competing against each other. With more than half the league-stage matches completed, curiosity is building over which team will top the standings and qualify for the final, adding to the excitement on the court. Competition is intensifying in every match, making results increasingly hard to predict.
Organising the NVL was a challenge for the organisers given that the entire country was in mourning following the Rasuwa flood on August 26. But rather than deepen the gloom during a difficult time, the organisers decided to go ahead with the league as scheduled from September 4, aiming to send a positive message. They also decided to donate all ticket revenue from the first day’s two matches to the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund to support flood victims.
NVL COO Bikas Khetan said the organisers contributed Rs 590,110, raised from first-day ticket sales, to the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund.
Similarly, the Kedia family has contributed Rs 10 million to the fund.
Organiser Kedia Group said the league has received strong support from spectators and has performed better than expected.
Unbeaten Karnali
With 10 of the 15 league-stage matches completed among the six teams, Karnali Shivraj has won three matches in a row and remains the only unbeaten team.
Karnali defeated Annapurna Spiker Kings 3-1 in its first match and beat Khaptad Falcons in straight sets. In its third match against Sagarmatha Smashers, Karnali secured a 3-2 win that went to a fifth set.
Chasing Karnali are Sagarmatha and Annapurna Spiker Kings, each with two wins. Sagarmatha has played four matches while Annapurna has played only three.
Karnali tops the table with 8 points, followed by Sagarmatha with 7 in second place. Annapurna sits third with 6 points. Kathmandu Reds, who have won 2 of their 3 matches, are fourth with 5 points.
Khaptad Falcons, meanwhile, have yet to win a match, having lost three in a row. Madhesh Warriors, who lost their opening two matches, secured their first win by defeating Khaptad. Madhesh sits fifth with 4 points, while Khaptad remains at the bottom without a single point.
Foreign players add a new draw
Foreign players are another major feature of the NVL. This time, players from Mongolia to Brazil have appeared on Nepali courts. Previously, competitions held in Nepal saw a heavy presence of Indian and Pakistani players. But this time, the participation of players from a wider range of countries has made the league more competitive, exciting, and given it a more international character.
A total of 18 foreign players from 10 countries besides Nepal are playing in the NVL. Pakistan has the most, with 5 players, followed by India and Mongolia with 3 each. The remaining 7 players come from 7 different countries.
Of these, only 6 have played in Nepal before, while 12 foreign players are playing volleyball in Nepal for the first time.
Players from Mongolia, Russia, Brazil, Benin, and various European countries are playing men’s volleyball in Nepal for the first time.
Pakistani players who have played in Nepal before, such as Aimal Khan, Ahmad Mustafa, Fakhar Uddin, and Adnan Khan, are also delivering excellent performances in the league.
Meanwhile, players making their Nepal debut, such as Mongolia’s Uranbayar Munkhbayar and Enkh Erdene, Poland’s Emil Smetek, and Benin’s Bosco Deto, have also performed impressively.
The arrival of new foreign players has given Nepali spectators the chance to watch a different style and standard of volleyball. Their skill, physicality, and on-court presentation have also created learning opportunities for Nepali players.
The presence of foreign players has therefore both raised the level of competition and become a key draw, bringing spectators to watch.
Standout performances from Uranbayar and Mustafa
Among the foreign players, young Mongolian star Uranbayar Munkhbayar, playing for Annapurna Spiker Kings, has drawn special attention from Nepali fans. The 21-year-old outside hitter, playing in Nepal for the first time, has won over spectators with his standout performances on court.
Consistently impressive, Uranbayar has played a key role in two of Annapurna’s wins, being named Player of the Match in both. He has delivered strong performances for Annapurna in every match, contributing significantly through powerful spikes as well as blocks and serves.
After being named Player of the Match in his first game, he said, energised by the support of Nepali fans: “I am very happy for our victory. Thank you to everyone for supporting us.”
Uranbayar’s performance remained excellent in Annapurna’s second win as well, and after being named Player of the Match in the match against Madhesh Warriors, he once again thanked Nepali fans.
Uranbayar has scored 84 points across 3 matches, 29 points in his first match against Karnali Shivraj, 29 more against Kathmandu, and 26 in the win over Madhesh Warriors.
The sensational performances of this Mongolian player, making his Nepal debut, have made him one of the tournament’s biggest attractions. The crowd’s reaction to his every spike, block, and decisive point reflects his growing popularity.
Similarly, Pakistani spiker Ahmed Mustafa, already familiar to Nepali audiences and courts, has also been performing excellently, scoring 102 points across 3 matches. Mustafa and Uranbayar lead the league in points scored.
Jibin Sebastian, playing for Madhesh Warriors in his Nepal debut, has also performed well. Nepali fans have shown great enthusiasm for watching debutants like Uranbayar, Jibin, and Bosco Deto in action.
