Sri Lanka smash hosts in final

Bangladesh had to be content with the runners-up trophy in the Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone Men's Volleyball Challenge Cup following a 3-0 sets defeat against Sri Lanka in the final at the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

The home side gave a run for the money to the 50th-ranked side in the world despite lacking skill in all three departments -- defending, attacking and service, as most of the players except for Horosit Bishwas, Syaeed Al Jabeer and Mohammad Sujan are inexperienced, coming into the tournament on the back of only a month's training.

With the spectators cheering the home team relentlessly, Bangladesh fought equally in the first set and were close to victory before two silly mistakes forced them surrender the lead as the Lankans took the first set 28-26.

In the second set, Bangladesh could not match with pace, power, block and smashing of Sri Lanka and were beaten 25-20. The men in red and green took a 16-14 lead in the third set before poor blocking from them and some intelligent play from the Sri Lankans meant the islanders won the set 25-20.

Sri Lanka had beaten Bangladesh in 3-1 sets in the group stages.

"We lost to Sri Lanka due to inexperience. Most of our players have no experience of playing such a match, which is why we could not match them despite offering equal fight. I think this experience will help us in future," captain Horosit said.   

Meanwhile, Nepal lifted the title of Bangamata Asian Central Zone Women's Volleyball Championship after handing a 3-2 sets defeat to Uzbekistan in the final at the same venue.