The final match of the inaugural Neth Savoeun Cup saw the Pursat provincial team (nearest to camera) triumph over the Kandal side to claim the historic win. CVF
The women’s volleyball team from Pursat province has made history by becoming the first-ever champions of the Nett Savoeun Cup 2025. However, the men’s team from the Ministry of Interior faced disappointment once again, failing to secure the title against Visakha.
In the thrilling men’s final, held Sunday evening at the National Olympic Stadium, the interior ministry side started strong, taking the first two sets with scores of 25-20 and 34-32. However, Visakha staged a remarkable comeback, winning the next three sets 25-23, 25-20 and 15-12 to claim the championship.
Meanwhile, the Phnom Penh Municipal Police team secured third place with a dominant 3-0 victory over the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces team.
The defeat marked another bitter loss for the interior ministry men’s team, echoing their December 2024 finals loss. Despite leading early, they also conceded a 3-2 defeat, leaving them as runners-up.
Women's volleyball gains ground
This year’s Neth Savoeun Cup introduced a women’s volleyball competition for the first time.
The Pursat women’s team emerged as champions, defeating Kandal province 3-1 in the final. Phnom Penh secured third with a 3-0 win over the interior ministry.
The competition saw the participation of eight women’s teams, a milestone for the sport in Cambodia.
Speaking about the debut competition, Aing Serey Piseth, secretary-general of the Cambodian Volleyball Federation (CVF), emphasised its importance in promoting the sport among women. He noted that integrating women’s volleyball into prominent events alongside men’s competitions is a strategic move to strengthen the sport at a national level and enhance competitiveness regionally.
The interior ministry (in yellow) blew an early lead to fall short of claiming the 2025 Neth Savoeun Cup on January 5, at a packed National Olympic Stadium. CVF
“I was astonished by the overwhelming support for women’s volleyball during this tournament,” Aing remarked.
“Our female athletes shared that this was the first time they experienced such a packed stadium cheering them on. This encouragement motivates them to compete in future events,” he added.
A vision for growth
Serey Piseth expressed optimism about the future of women’s volleyball in the Kingdom, believing the 2025 tournament’s success signals a resurgence of the sport. He hopes Cambodian women’s teams can one day compete against neighbouring countries on an equal footing.
However, he acknowledged the challenges of developing women’s volleyball, emphasising the need for long-term investment, similar to that made in the men’s game.
Citing the success of the Visakha men's team, which earned Cambodia its first SEA Games volleyball bronze medal in 2021 and a silver medal in 2023, Aing explained that significant results required at least a decade of sustained effort.
“Investing in female athletes is no simple task – it takes five to ten years to see meaningful results,” he explained.
“But with strong national support, I believe we can achieve success in less time and develop exceptional players who can compete internationally,” he continued.
As Cambodia’s volleyball community celebrates Pursat's historic victory and women’s volleyball's growing prominence, Serey Piseth remains hopeful that the sport will continue to flourish, thanks to the backing of passionate supporters and strategic investment.
