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The game is very much alive
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The game is all set to grow in the coming days
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Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Making a mark Players in action
When two sand courts were laid at the Victory Play Ground (VPG) in Chaderghat, few foresaw what would emerge in the future. While the objective was to simulate conditions on the coasts conducive for beach volleyball, the parched river bed of the neig
hbouring Musi could hardly match the bustling breeze from the sea that could toss the ball around.
Nonetheless, a set of enthusiastic volleyball players took to the sport, like fish to water.
In the process, their stamina grew, along with speed and balance, all so vital to the sport.
For Abdul Khalikh (Anwar), Omer Mohsin, A. Raj Kumar, Mohd. Ghouse and Mohd. Jameeluddin, the conditions apart from the courts they practised on, were really backward.
Despite little material and moral support, they bashed on.
Over time, various pairs from the above set, in differing combinations, dominated the national beach volleyball scene, driving to the shade those sides that not only hailed from the coastlands but trained there regularly. Credit should go to S. Ramnath, who was made the convener of the newly-formed All-India Beach Volleyball Council in the early 90s.
The former State Bank of India employee wrote to the International Beach Volleyball Council in Brazil, obtained the rules of competition and videos of various international events.
From these inputs, the Hyderabad players grew in stature, making a mark wherever they went.
In 1995, Raj Kumar was adjudged the best player of the tournament in the Asian Circuit championships on Boracai Island, the Philippines.
Backing him effectively was Khalikh, never hesitating to break out into some spectacular dives to retrieve the ball.
Inspired by their exploits and perhaps tired of the regular indoor format, V. Ravikanth Reddy and others took up the sport as well. Ramnath, meanwhile, lent his expertise to the conduct of two international competitions at Chennai and Mumbai and subsequently to those staged at the Necklace Road courts, again artificial and nowhere as gusty as on a regular beach.
Seeing the large spectator turnout at these events, sponsors began to support the sport.
When Ravikanth Reddy realised his playing days were behind him, he also entered the arena, this time as an organiser.
If the success of the last two Asian championships held in Hyderabad is any thing to go by, beach volleyball is alive and well and set to grow in the years ahead.
A. JOSEPH ANTONY
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