Male' Maldives: Maldives and Kyrgyzstan opened their campaigns with victories as the CAVA Women’s Cup got underway in Malé, the capital of the Maldives.
The tournament was originally scheduled to feature five nations. However, Turkmenistan withdrew after its government imposed restrictions preventing women’s teams from participating in overseas competitions, according to officials from the Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM).
In the opening match of the competition, Kyrgyzstan defeated Afghanistan in straight sets, producing a commanding 3–0 victory. With a strong record in regional competitions, Kyrgyzstan controlled the match throughout, winning the sets 25–15, 26–24, and 25–11.
The second match saw the host nation Maldives take to the court in a vibrant atmosphere following the opening ceremony, which was held prior to their clash with Bangladesh. Maldives dominated the encounter from start to finish, securing a comfortable 3–0 win with set scores of 25–18, 25–12, and 25–16.
Coached by Mohamed Nadheem (Nadheembe), the Maldives delivered an impressive team performance, led by captain Hawwa Raashidha and vice-captain Joozan Zareer. Young prospect Maya Hussain also played a key role, continuing her promising development within the national team.
The tournament will follow a league-stage format, after which the top teams will advance to the semi-finals, followed by a third-place playoff and the final. Maldives are scheduled to face Afghanistan in their second match tonight, while Kyrgyzstan will take on Bangladesh later this evening.
