Malé, Maldives — The Women’s Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Cup 2025 opened Saturday in Malé City, launching the region’s premier women’s volleyball championship in the Maldives capital.
The opening ceremony was held at the Social Center Indoor Hall at 20:30 hrs, setting a festive tone for the tournament. Maldives Commissioner of Sports Mr. Mohamed Tholal attended as Chief Guest and formally welcomed participating teams and officials, praising the Central Asian Volleyball Association and the Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM) for bringing the competition to the country.
In his address, Mr. Tholal highlighted the role of international competitions in advancing women’s volleyball, expressing confidence that the championship would feature high-quality matches while offering visiting teams an opportunity to experience the Maldives’ culture and hospitality.
The tournament trophy was officially unveiled by the Chief Guest, symbolizing the formal start of the championship. Mr. Tholal was joined by Mr. Mohamed Latheef, President of both CAVA and VAM, as the two jointly inaugurated the event and declared the Women’s CAVA Cup 2025 open.
Delegations from Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan were present at the ceremony, alongside CAVA President, VAM officials, invited guests, and volleyball stakeholders.
The 2025 Women’s CAVA Cup features four national federations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, and host nation Maldives.
Kyrgyzstan Sweeps Afghanistan in Opening Match
The championship action began with Kyrgyzstan facing Afghanistan in the opening match. Kyrgyzstan secured a straight-set victory, 3–0 (25–15, 26–24, 25–12), displaying efficiency in attack and capitalizing on opponent errors.
Kyrgyzstan totaled 76 points, registering 31 spikes, six blocks, eight service points, and 31 points from opponent errors. Afghanistan finished with 51 points, including 12 spikes, three blocks, six service points, and 30 points from opponent errors.
Saikal Amirakulova (#11) led Kyrgyzstan with 10 points as the most effective attacker, while Nurzhamal Bolotbekova (#7) added six points and Maria Tkacheva (#4) contributed two points. Afghanistan’s Roghayeh Mohammadi (#3) was the match’s top scorer with five points, with Mohaddese Amiri (#11) adding two service points and Zahra Hanieh Afghan (#4) recording two block points.
Defensively, Kyrgyzstan’s Bermet Azhkanova and Asema Seitbrlova impressed with strong digging, while Afghanistan relied on Amiri Mohaddese to anchor the backcourt.
Maldives Thrills Home Crowd Against Bangladesh
In the second match of the day, host nation Maldives energized the home crowd with a 3–0 victory over Bangladesh (25–18, 25–12, 25–16), showcasing strong attacking play and aggressive serving.
Maldives finished with 75 total points, including 41 spikes, two blocks, 10 service points, and 22 points from opponent errors. Bangladesh recorded 46 points, with 16 spikes, six blocks, four service points, and 20 points from opponent errors.
Rashidha Hawwa (#6) starred for Maldives, leading all scorers with 20 points from 47 attacks. She was supported by Shamin Aminath Shaha (#10) with eight points and Joozan Zareer Fathimath (#11), who contributed three service points. For Bangladesh, Most Sabina Khatun (#7) led with 11 points from 37 attacks, while Takfiya Akter (#8) added four points and Lavani Khatun (#3) contributed two block points.
On defense, Maldives’ Areesha Aminath and Joozan Zareer Fathimath stood out with solid digs and receptions, while Bangladesh’s Olinda Marfut recorded two excellent digs in the backcourt.
Competitive Start Sets the Tone
Day 1 of the Women’s CAVA Cup 2025 delivered competitive volleyball and established an early tone for the tournament. Kyrgyzstan’s disciplined performance and Maldives’ home-court momentum highlighted the opening day, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh showed resilience and flashes of promise.
Action continues on Sunday, December 21, 2025, with Bangladesh facing Kyrgyzstan at 16:20 hrs, followed by Maldives against Afghanistan at 20:40 hrs. Evening matches have been scheduled at 20:40 hrs to align with broadcast requirements.
The Women’s CAVA Cup 2025 serves as a key platform for women athletes in Central Asia, promoting performance development, international exposure, and regional cooperation. Hosted in the Maldives, the tournament blends competitive sport with cultural exchange, reinforcing volleyball’s growing footprint in the region.