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PHOTO: H. VIBHU

UPBEAT The triumphant Chinmaya Vidyalaya girls’ team

The Chinmaya girls’ recent triumph in the All-Kerala CBSE Volleyball Championship, held at the SN Vidya Bhavan, Chentrapinni, makes it their fifth consecutive title in six final appearances. The school also has a fine boys’ team, which stumbled in the semifinals of the event this year.

More than the success rate of the school’s volleyball teams what is interesting is that there is an influx of young players every year. “We offer facilities for various sports disciplines but children seem to prefer volleyball and football. Perhaps, this has a lot to do with the performances of these teams. It is natural for children to be drawn to teams that keep winning. And our volleyball teams have been doing this consistently. What our girls have achieved is indeed laudable,” says Maya Menon, the school’s principal.

The school physical education teacher Wilson F. has been teams’ coach for the last eight years. He has observed that, over the years, there has been a steady rise in standards. “Of late, we have had players, especially girls, who are good enough to represent the district and even the State junior teams,” he says. “Unfortunately most of them stop playing once they pass out of school. This is mainly because most of them opt for professional courses. And once they are there, it’s the end of the game. Of course, there are exceptions like Anitha Jose and Aswathy Varma, who pursued the game at the college level.”

Thankfully, there are at least two spikers in the current team who vow to continue playing even after they leave school. “It is all about being able to enjoy the game. And volleyball is something I love. I also know that there are a lot of job opportunities if you are able to reach a certain standard. So I see no harm in taking up a sport I like, seriously. Moreover, I have the full backing of my parents in this,” says Roshini Menon, the skipper of the winning side.

The school has not fared very well at the Nationals on earlier occasions. The girls have never secured a place so far, while the best the boys have achieved is a fourth place way back in 1985. “This year we have a very dedicated group. They have not a missed a training session, rain or shine. Moreover, they have done well in the other school tournaments held in the district. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do well this year,” says Wilson.

With CBSE schools like Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Tripunithura, and SN Vidya Bhavan, Chentrapinni, producing excellent volleyball teams over the years, it is time the volleyball association steps in with specialised help. “We have observed that there has been a huge improvement in the standard of the CBSE teams. At times they are much better than the teams from the State schools.

Yes, it is a fact that we have not looked towards the CBSE schools. This is because we have always thought that they have the resources to run the show. But if schools with proven credentials approach us with specific requests we will be glad to help them.

I feel that these teams can even enter the district league which will give them valuable experience,” promises Prasad Clemence, president, Ernakulam District Volleyball Association.

But right now the girls are still celebrating their straight sets win over Chalakudy’s CKM NSS in the final, the newly-found fame and have begun planning for their trip to Chandigarh for the forthcoming Nationals.

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