Pratibha Mali is one of the most prolific players in Nepal’s national women’s volleyball team. Mali has played a significant role in enhancing the status of Nepali women’s volleyball. She was a crucial player when Nepal won the Central Zone Volleyball twice and secured second place in the 2019 13th South Asian Games.
However, Mali is not in the squad for the ongoing CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League at Covered Hall, Kathmandu. The main reason is her knee injury.
The injury day
On January 24, 2020, during the NVA Club Championship’s final match, the third set’s score between New Diamond Club and APF was 22-20. When Mali of New Diamond spiked and landed, she fainted. The court fell silent. After primary treatment, she was taken to a hospital on a stretcher. An X-ray revealed an ACL injury, a medial meniscus tear, and a medial collateral injury, necessitating surgery.
After 17 days, she was discharged from the hospital, but it took her 432 days to return to the volleyball court at Dasarath Rangasala. Due to the lockdown, she could not get proper treatment. According to Ujjwal Dotel, former physiotherapist of Nepal’s volleyball team, her knees could not bend over 120/125 degrees. Four months later, she had to undergo a second surgery.
It was hard for her to return to the court, but on January 21, she made her comeback during the Tiger Cup held in Pokhara. Her doctors, Prajwal Man Shrestha and Rupesh Vaidhya were amazed to hear about Mali’s return.
“Her knee was so badly injured that she couldn’t play,” says Dotel. But Pratibha Mali did magic as she entered the court. She spiked so powerfully that it was tough for the opposing team to receive. Gradually, she returned to her former form.
Fulfilled dream
The CAVA Challenge Cup was scheduled to be hosted in Nepal in May 2023, and Mali started practising along with other players. Unfortunately, her old injury flared up. For the third time, she underwent surgery. After the surgery, she prepared to return to the court, but again, there was an injury to her knee. The doctor again prescribed surgery, which could cause her to miss the Asian Games, slated for September 2023 in China.
Playing in the Asian Games was Mali’s dream. She convinced her doctor and participated in the Asian Games. “Even while sustaining pain, I played in the Asian Games,” says Mali. In the Tiger Cup held six months earlier in Pokhara, she could not play.
Mali never thought she would have to go through surgeries frequently. For the fourth surgery, physio Dotel asked Mali to change surgeons. She then met Nagmani Singh, a surgeon at B and B Hospital, which had introduced new technologies for players. According to the doctors, one of her ligaments had become thin, causing frequent injuries and a torn meniscus during games.
Watching from outside the court
Although she has not been able to play, she has always shown her presence in Nepal’s matches in the ongoing CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League. On August 3, when Nepal won against India, Pratibha was there in the covered hall. “We always used to play with the mindset of winning against India. After a long time, we have won against India; I feel very happy,” says Mali.
As Nepal is playing well, Mali says she does not miss her presence on the court. But when Nepal fails to perform well, she feels anxious and misses her presence on the court.
Kumar Rai, head coach of New Diamond Club, says it is sad to see a player like Pratibha Mali unable to play in such an important match.
