Usually, in volleyball, the players earn their identity at the age of 20. If not selected for the national team, they hone themselves within the domestic volleyball scene.
Popular spikers Pratibha Mali and Usha Bhandari debuted in the national team at the age of 13 and 14, respectively.
However, the quick spiker, Sumitra Regmi started to play volleyball at the age of 21. After two years of playing volleyball, she made her debut in the national and has been proving herself as one of the most skilled quick spikers in Nepal’s national women’s volleyball team.
Sumitra Regmi’s height fast-tracks her to national debut
In the recently held CAVA Women’s Nations League, Regmi debuted in the national team in a match against Sri Lanka. Earlier, she participated in a friendly match against Russia, where her notable performance grabbed the attention of the selectors. As a result, she was chosen as the first-choice player for the CAVA Women’s Nations League and played in all the matches of the league.
Although Lalita Nath of New Diamond Youth Sports Club and Kopila Rana of Nepal Police Club performed well in quick spikes, they were not selected for the national team due to their height.
The main reason Regmi quickly got the opportunity to play in the national team is her height. Five feet eleven inches tall Sumitra Regmi played an impressive game through her quick spikes and blocks.
“My height is my plus point due to which I was able to debut in the national team in just two years of starting my career,” says Regmi.
Sumitra Regmi, a native of Sankhuwasabha, had never played volleyball during her childhood.
After completing her Secondary Education Examination (SEE), she did not want to study further. Born and raised in a decent family background, she wanted to earn money. After completing SEE, she started working in a village for a year. But to continue her education, her sister took her to Kathmandu. Even after coming to Kathmandu, she left studying and started working.
However, she could not earn well. Then she continued her studies. She enrolled in Vishwa Niketan in the morning shift, and during the day she had nothing to do. At that time, Nabin Thapa Magar, someone Regmi knew, suggested that Regmi play volleyball at New Diamond Academy instead of staying idle.
Victory, defeat, and dreams for the future
In the match in which Regmi debuted Nepal won against Sri Lanka 3-0. In the second match, Nepal defeated India by 3-2. For the first time in the history of volleyball, Nepal won against India. “I can define the happiness of winning against India,” says Regmi, “I feel very proud of that victory.”
But in the final India defeated Nepal by 3-2, and remembering that moment makes her heart heavy. “The first two sets in the final went well, then we lost the balance. I also became nervous,” says Regmi.
As it was her first time playing in a final on home court, Regmi believes the situation added extra pressure on her, which led to a service error during the match.
“I have a lack of experience but I believe if there will be more friendly matches my experience and confidence both will enhance,” she says.
Before going to learn volleyball at the New Diamond Academy, she was selected as Police Head Constable in Nepal Police. But she did not join there. After she started to perform well in domestic volleyball, she began getting offers from the departmental club. However, her love for New Diamond Academy remained dominant.
She has decided to play domestic volleyball only from New Diamond Academy. The coach of the academy, Kumar Rai wants to make Regmi his “dream player.”
Coach Rai says, “ I want to make Regmi a dream player within five years, two years have already passed.”
Earlier, Rai wanted to make Ramila Tandukar a dream player, but she discontinued volleyball and left the country in search of a better future. Afterwards, he wanted to make Pratibha Mali his dream player but Mali had to go through a serious injury. For the last four years, she has been struggling to play regularly after the injury.
Recently, the Karnali team signed Sumitra Regmi as a marquee player in the Everest Women’s Volleyball League, which is going to be held for the first time in Nepal.
This was a surprise for her. She never thought that she would be signed as a marquee player. Regmi is currently pursuing a Bachelor in Business Studies. She thinks that the franchise league will be a good platform to generate income and an opportunity to learn from foreign players.
She says that her family is happy with whatever she has been doing.
