A total of 19 teams took part in the tournament

Thinley Namgay

Dorokha based volleyball team, Bundles, defeated Haiku by three sets to two in the finals of the Men’s Open Volleyball Championship at the Changlimithang volleyball ground in Thimphu, yesterday.

Despite having a major advantage after a two-set lead (25-12 and 25-22), team Haiku could not capitalise on the opportunity. The team from Dorokha got back in the game winning the next two straight sets and taking the finals into a decider set.

Team Bundles went on to win the deciding set 15-11.

Bundles’ Deo Man Rai, said that the tournament was an opportunity for his team who came from a remote place. “Before coming here for the tournament, we stayed for a week in quarantine in Samtse. We came here to win and I am glad we won. We would like to participate even next year.”

He said the competition was tough especially when they took on team Raven Six from Bumthang in the semi-finals yesterday. Bundles won the deciding set.

Haiku defeated team Dzong in three straight sets to reach the finals yesterday. Skipper Sangay Wangdi said that his team had defeated the Bundles in two straight sets during the league round. “I expected to win the championship, but when it is a best of five game, my players usually get tired.”

Both the finalists are newcomers in the tournament this year. They were awarded cash prizes of Nu 40,000 and Nu 30,000, respectively.

A total of 19 teams from Thimphu, Paro, Bumthang, and Samdrupjongkhar took part in the annual league-cum-knockout tournament that began on November 24. A total of 43 games including the finals were played in the tournament.

Following strict Covid-19 protocols, Bhutan Volleyball Federation organised the tournament.