Male City, Maldives, September 6, 2024 – The CAVA Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup 2024 officially commenced on Friday in the Maldives, marking an exciting start to the regional tournament.
The competition, taking place from September 6-11, saw an exhilarating opening day, where Kyrgyzstan triumphed over Tajikistan in a 3-0 sweep and hosts Maldives registered their first win.
Following this thrilling encounter, fans and athletes gathered for the grand opening ceremony held at 8:00pm local time. The ceremony featured the presence of distinguished guests, including Chief Guest, Minister of Housing, Land, and Urban Development, Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, CAVA President Mr Mohamed Latheef, himself AVC Executive Vice President and AVC Zonal Executive Vice President representing Central Zone, CAVA Executive Director Mr Kylychbek Sarbaghyshev, and Minister of States for Sports, Fitness, and Recreation, Mr Mohamed Riyaz.
In his opening remarks, Mr Latheef, who also serves as President of Volleyball Association of Maldives, warmly welcomed the participating teams, sponsors, and all volleyball enthusiasts. He expressed his gratitude to the Maldives’ leadership, notably the President, Minister of Sports, and Commissioner of Sports, for their unwavering support in advancing volleyball and sports in the Maldives. Latheef encouraged the teams to compete with respect, teamwork, and fair play, emphasizing the spirit of unity and excellence that the CAVA Challenge Cup embodies. He concluded his speech by thanking the national volleyball federations and all attendees for their commitment to the sport.
Dr Haidar also expressed gratitude for hosting the CAVA Women’s Challenge Cup, thanking the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) for the opportunity. He also emphasized the Maldivian Government’s commitment to sports development under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, stating their dedication to creating opportunities for international competitions in the Maldives.
The ceremony set a celebratory tone for the host nation’s team, as the Maldives delighted home fans by defeating Afghanistan in a commanding 3-0 match (25-19, 25-12, 25-11), much to the joy of the local supporters and dignitaries in attendance.
Hawwa Rashidha led Maldives with 12 points from 10 kills and 2 aces, while Shamin Shaha Aminath also scored 12 points for the host side, all in attack. Mohammadi Roghayeh scored 6 points on the Afghanistan’s loss.
Earlier, Kyrgyzstan pulled off a sensational 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-21) victory against Tajikistan. Roza Rasulbekkyzy scored a match-high 17 points from 12 kills and 5 aces. Saikal Amirakulova led the team’s blocking with 4 stuffs from 12 attempts. Muborakshoeva and Zamira Badalbekova scored 6 points apiece for Tajikistan.
Looking ahead, the second day of pool play promises more excitement, with key matchups scheduled for September 7, where Tajikistan will take on Afghanistan at 16:15pm and the Maldives will face Kyrgyzstan at 20:30pm.
MATCH RESULTS AND RANKING
MATCH SCHEDULE
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