KATHMANDU, Nepal — India, Iran, Nepal and Kazakhstan secured semifinal berths as the preliminary round of the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship 2026 concluded Monday at the NSC Indoor Hall in Kathmandu.
Sri Lanka opened the day with its first victory of the tournament, defeating Bangladesh in straight sets, 25-19, 25-9, 25-13, in Pool B action. Gunawardana Nimeshika Sewwandi led Sri Lanka with 15 points, while Abesingha Prithika Pramodhini added nine. Bangladesh was paced by Most Sabina Khatun with 15 points.
India then completed an unbeaten Pool A campaign with a 25-14, 26-24, 25-13 victory over Kyrgyzstan. Anusree Kambrath Poyilil scored 11 points for India, while Anagha Radhakrishnan and Prerona Pal added eight and seven points, respectively. Kyrgyzstan was led by Raiana Baiamanova with 12 points.
In the final match of the day, Iran secured first place in Pool B after defeating Kazakhstan in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, 25-22. Elaheh Poorsaleh Shahdehsari led Iran with 14 points, while Fatemeh Khalili Chermahini contributed 10. Kazakhstan’s Tatyana Yatskiv finished with 12 points in the losing effort.
Following the conclusion of pool play, India topped Pool A with a 3-0 record and eight points, followed by Nepal at 2-1 and Kyrgyzstan at 1-2. Maldives finished fourth at 0-3. Iran led Pool B with a perfect 3-0 record and nine points, while Kazakhstan secured second place at 2-1. Sri Lanka finished third at 1-2, and Bangladesh ended the preliminary round winless at 0-3.
The tournament now moves into the knockout stage, with India, Iran, Nepal and Kazakhstan advancing to the semifinals scheduled for May 28 at the NSC Indoor Hall. India will face Kazakhstan at 2:30 p.m., while Iran takes on host nation Nepal at 5:00 p.m.
Classification matches resume Tuesday, with Kyrgyzstan facing Bangladesh at 2:30 p.m. followed by Maldives against Sri Lanka at 5:00 p.m. The medal matches are scheduled for May 29, with the bronze medal match at 1:00 p.m. and the final at 4:30 p.m.
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