The Hindu : Sport / Volleyball : Kerala triumphs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 05, 2007
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Sport - Volleyball

Kerala triumphs

Special Correspondent

NIRMAL: Kerala men and women emerged champions, remaining unbeaten in the South Zone senior volleyball tournament that concluded at the NTR Stadium here on Sunday.

In the last fixtures of their respective leagues, where both posted straight set victories, the men overcame Karnataka 25-18, 25-20, 25-18, while the women subdued Tamil Nadu 25-19, 25-11, 25-20.

Superior court craft was the key, especially for the men, who knew almost by instinct where the vacant spaces would be in the rival half. These it relentlessly targetted to stunning effect. While skipper V. Ajmal led the charge, leaping to pound the ball repeatedly, backing him up with equal effect were Bineesh and Ragesh.

If a smash wouldn't work, Manu's left-handed jabs caught the Karnataka defence off guard time and again. In contrast, the winner displayed a high level of flexibility in defence, its players adapting rapidly and very much in sync with the speeding sphere.

For the vanquished, Jury Jose with some splendid spiking and booming jump serves caught the eye. Otherwise, Karnataka was perpetually on the defensive, its attack invariably recoiling on itself, what with the Kerala block baulking several such attempts.

Superior attack

On the distaff side, Tamil Nadu's all-round game seemed superior, which however floundered when faced with the superior attack of its opponents. Kerala's spiking had more sting, thanks largely to good jumping that gave the smashes added impetus.

The Collector and District Magistrate, R. Subba Rao, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes. Joint Collector Dinakar Babu and Nirmal MLA A. Indra Karan Reddy were present at the valedictory function.

The results: Men: Kerala bt Karnataka 25-18, 25-20, 25-18, Tamil Nadu bt AP 25-14, 25-20, 25-20.Women: Kerala bt Tamil Nadu 25-19, 25-11, 25-20. — Special Correspondent

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