Kathmandu, July 21: “Nepali players do not let the ball touch the ground, so I believe it is going to be fun. We will use our height advantage while Nepali players will use their patience and dedication. In the end, friendship will win,” said Maria Babeshina, captain of the Russian women’s volleyball team who came for two friendly matches against Nepal.

Nepal and Russia are playing two friendlies on July 21 and 22 at the Covered Hall in Dasharath Rangasala. A 12-player squad led by head coach Yuri Marichev, also a former Turkish player, assistant coach Mustafa Kilinc, and manager Lyubov Sokolova, arrived in Nepal on Friday.

While Marichev is a decorated coach, Sokolova is a decorated player. Sokolova was in the Russian national team when they bagged gold in World Champions in 2006 and 2010 and silver medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

Speaking at the post-match conference in the capital city of Kathmandu on Saturday, Russia’s head coach Marichev said, “Asian countries have a different style of play. We are also a new team. We expect a proper challenge from Nepal.”

Russia, before getting suspended by the FIVB in 2022, was ranked eighth in the world. Nepal, on the other hand, has not been able to garner enough WR points and get into the ranking. 

“It is a great opportunity for us to play against a top team like Russia. If we want to improve, we need to face better teams. The two friendly matches will also be a good preparation for the upcoming CAVA Women’s League being hosted by Nepal in August,” said Jagdish Prasad Bhatt, head coach of Nepali women’s volleyball team.

Responding to how Nepal planned to tackle taller and more powerful players of Russia, Nepal’s captain Aruna Shahi said, “We are playing practice matches with Russia. Practice matches mean we will be playing to learn. We will learn how to block tall players and how to spike past them.”

Informing that it was the 68th year of friendship between Nepal and Russia, Russian diplomats assured of continuing to strengthen the ties between the two countries, this time through volleyball.

“Nepal and Russia decided on the friendly matches to improve our long-term relation. While Nepal hosted us this time, we will soon be calling the Nepali team to St. Petersburg,” said Yury Gusev, Honorary Consul of Nepal in St. Petersburg. 

At the end of the conference, Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA) President Jitendra Bahadur Chand informed that Russia’s coach Marichev will be staying in Nepal until the CAVA tournament kicked off. “The Russian Embassy in Kathmandu has managed time for Coach Marichev to guide our volleyball players and coaches/trainers. We are lucky to have world-class players and coaches.”

Nepal squad: Aruna Shahi (C), Arati Subedi, Kabita Bhatta, Kamana Bista, Niruta Thagunna, Pragati Nath, Punam Chand, Safiya Pun, Salina Shrestha, Sangam Mahato, Saraswoti Chaudhary, Shanti Tamang, Sunita Regmi, Usha Bhandari.

Russia squad: Maria Babeshina (C), Anastasiya Azanova, Anna Lubenchenko, Anna Zinovieva, Ekaterina Timoshkova, Elena Vashina, Inna Kruk, Mila Volodina, Nataliya Slautina, Olga Kostiukevitsh, Sergeeva Varvara, Angelina Emelina.