The Hindu : Sport / Volleyball : World youth volleyball: India in strong group

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Saturday, Jul 14, 2007
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World youth volleyball: India in strong group

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: With the World Youth volleyball championships just over a month away in Mexico from August 15 to 26, National coach Syam Sundar Rao is a beacon of hope.

India is placed in a strong group. With the recent induction of some new faces in the National squad, it could make headway, he opined during a conversation with The Hindu.

Other teams in the group are Belgium, ranked fourth in Europe, Tunisia, to whom India lost the last time they met and Mexico, which as the host, enjoys the home advantage. The Dronacharya and Arjuna awardee is however confident that India will reverse the verdict against Tunisia this time.

Also pitted against the National side are the high-altitude conditions, where the world event will be staged. The cold could cause problems.

Nonetheless, the Indian youth probables along with their senior counterparts are in the thick of practice at camps in progress at the SAI South Centre in Bangalore.

India’s possibilities

Of India’s possibilities for the Commonwealth championships slated for the month-end at Kolkata, he estimates India could get a bronze, behind Canada and Australia, two teams considered strong even in the Olympics.

In the September 1 to 9 Asian championships at Jakarta, India has a tough task on hand, what with Korea, Kazhakistan and Australia figuring in the same group.

Stress was however most on grooming a good side for the 2010 Asian Games, he said. Of the recent Asian beach volleyball championships held here, he said the meet accentuated the need for sponsorship support. The Indian pair got as far as the quarterfinals but for better results he called for young blood to take up the sport, instead of leaving it to dropouts from regular volleyball.

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