India Register Back-to-Back Wins at CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship 2026
The Indian women’s volleyball team has made an impressive start to its campaign at the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship 2026, registering back-to-back victories in Kathmandu and strengthening hopes of a deep run in the regional tournament.
After surviving a tense five-set battle against hosts Nepal in their opening match, India returned with an even more dominant display, defeating Maldives in straight sets to continue their unbeaten start under new head coach Jana Kulan. The tournament, being held at the NSC Indoor Hall in Kathmandu from May 22 to 29, features eight teams from across Central and South Asia, including India, Nepal, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
For Indian volleyball, this competition represents more than just another regional tournament.
It is the beginning of a new phase under Azerbaijani coach Jana Kulan, who was appointed with the aim of improving India’s tactical structure and raising international standards ahead of bigger continental competitions. India’s opening victory against Nepal was an early test of character.
Playing in front of a packed and passionate home crowd, Nepal pushed India all the way in one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far. The hosts took the opening set 25-21 before India responded strongly to win the next two sets 25-20 and 25-19.
Nepal refused to back down and levelled the contest after taking the fourth set 25-21, forcing the match into a decisive fifth set. However, India showed composure in the crucial moments.
Led by strong performances from Shilpa Rajendrandnair Sindhu and Anagha Radhakrishnan, India controlled the decider 15-9 to seal a hard-fought 3-2 victory and hand Jana Kulan his first win as India head coach. The victory was significant not only because it came against the hosts under immense crowd pressure, but also because Nepal had emerged as a rapidly improving volleyball nation in recent years.
India’s ability to recover after losing both the first and fourth sets highlighted the team’s improved mental resilience and tactical discipline.
The Blue Tigresses then carried that momentum into their second match against Maldives. Unlike the Nepal clash, India dominated from start to finish and secured a comfortable straight-sets victory. India won the match 25-9, 25-14, 25-17, completely overpowering the Maldivian side with superior attacking play, blocking and defensive organisation.
The result also helped India climb to World No. 64 in the live rankings, offering another positive indicator for the national program. The team looked significantly sharper in transition play compared to the opening match, while their serving pressure consistently troubled Maldives throughout the contest. The improvement between the two games reflected the growing confidence within the squad.
India’s attacking combinations appeared smoother, communication on court improved and the players adapted well to Jana Kulan’s tactical structure. The coach himself has already brought noticeable changes to the team’s approach.
India looked more organised defensively and considerably more aggressive in attack during both matches. The players also appeared willing to play with greater pace and variation — something Indian volleyball has often lacked at the international level. Meanwhile, the overall tournament has already produced several strong performances from other contenders.
Iran announced themselves as title challengers with a crushing straight-set win over Bangladesh, taking the match 25-6, 25-9, 25-10 in a completely one-sided affair. Fatemeh Khalili Chermahini and Sepinood Dastbarjan starred for Iran as the side showcased why they remain one of Asia’s strongest volleyball nations.
Kyrgyzstan also made an impressive start in Pool A by defeating Maldives in straight sets 25-19, 25-16, 25-22. That result briefly pushed Kyrgyzstan to the top of Pool A standings before India’s second victory strengthened their own position.
The format of the competition ensures every pool-stage match remains important. With India and Kyrgyzstan emerging as the early frontrunners in Pool A, Nepal’s clash against Kyrgyzstan has suddenly become crucial for the hosts’ qualification hopes.
A defeat there could leave Nepal in a difficult position despite their spirited performance against India. For Indian volleyball, the bigger picture remains encouraging.
The national women’s team has shown flashes of promise over the last few years but has struggled for consistency at important tournaments. The arrival of Jana Kulan appears aimed at addressing exactly that issue by building a more structured and tactically disciplined side. The early signs from Kathmandu have certainly been positive.
India has displayed resilience in difficult moments and professionalism against lower-ranked opposition two qualities essential for sustained success internationally. More importantly, the players appear to be adapting quickly to the new coaching system. With tougher matches likely to come later in the tournament, India will need to maintain the same intensity and consistency moving forward. But after two consecutive wins and a rise in world rankings, the campaign has already begun on a highly promising note.
The CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship may be a regional tournament, but for India, it could become an important stepping stone in rebuilding confidence and momentum on the international stage.
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