Monday, Nov 10, 2003
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Volleyball
By Our Sports Reporter
Karnataka boys powered by a team effort triumphed over Tamil Nadu at 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12. Haryana girls too extended its lease over the title for the third year demolishing the challenge from Tamil Nadu 25-20, 25-16, 25-17. Karnataka boys had their revenge. Having lost to TN at Chennai in 2000, Karnataka did bag the title in the following year at Badagara (2001). But then the fact that it was its arch rival across the net did pep up the A.B. Ashok-led host team. And Ashok did lead by example. H.S. Pavan did pack a punch and the lanky spiker did rattle the TN defence with some steep shots that brooked no answer. With Ajay and S. Mahindra too rising to the occasion in a rousing manner TN did have a match in its hands. If the first set went with points till 15-all before Karnataka nosed ahead to win 25-22, the second set saw a virtual turn-over. Leading 12-7 one would have even envisaged a comfortable win for the host team. But it was not to be as John Christopher and Shiva Kumar effected a revival for TN which enabled it to win the set at 25-18. The contest was turning into a cracker as once again Karnataka took early lead and this time hung on to win at 25-19. Leading 2-1 and 8-5 and 11-8 in the fourth Karnataka looked to be cruising, before TN, by now a familiar tale, swung things around. Both Goutham and Damodharan came good at crucial juncture and with Stanley David Jearaj setting up the passes well it was Karnataka's turn to do the chasing. TN won the set at 25-22 to take the match into the decider. With a pep talk and well earned breather the teams began the final set rather cautiously. Ashok and Pavan looked a wee bit circumspect but Ajay did rattle points with his power-packed shots. Changing ends at 8-4 Karnataka were tense and it showed immensely as TN crawled back to level the scores at 8-8 before a timely time-out by Karnataka coach N.A. Nirajkar turned things over for the host. Ashok, Pavan and Ajay in turn played intelligently with Pavan effecting two superb drops to clinch the set and match amidst wild celebrations in the stands that spilled over onto the court. Haryana girls took time to settle down. But once they did captain Priyanka and key spiker Seema, backed by a solid defence, carried the game away from TN girls. The TN team though well equipped failed to cope up to the pressure and once having conceded the lead failed to pull themselves together. Varalakshmi attacked well but was inconsistent while Sajini hardly impressed. Haryana came into the championship as holders and kept up its reputation. The teams were awarded the Sri Chamundeshwari Cup, donated by the Sri Chamundeshwari Charitable Trust. Madhya Pradesh boys and Kerala girls finished third best after the play-off in the morning. While MP downed last years runner-up Manipur Kerala, upset last years runner up West Bengal in straight sets at 25-10, 25-15, 25-21. The results: Boys Final: Karnataka bt Tamil Nadu 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12. For third place: Madya Pradesh bt Manipur 25-21, 25-14, 25-14. Girls Final: Haryana bt Tamil Nadu 25-20, 25-16, 25-17. For third place: Kerala bt West Bengal 25-10, 25-15, 25-21.
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