TN bank on home advantage

TN bank on home advantage
Julian Rodrigo

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 15: Four national championships in two months proves Tamil Nadu has become synonymous with volleyball. Starting from this January, they played hosts to junior nationals (Tiruchi), senior nationals (Salem) and mini nationals in the city recently. Now they are at it again.

It will be another feather in Tamil Nadu's cap when the Indian Oil Servo National Super League Volleyball Championship (men and women), for Nutrine Trophy, takes of at Teachers Training College Ground, Saidapet on Wednesday. The final is slated for February 21 and it is for the first time a meet with a total prize money of Rs 1.25 lakh is conducted by a private club -- the GKM Volleyball Foundation.

Chennai, in particular, has been a beehive of activity ever since the FIVB Development centre started functioning. Chennai gained a prominent place in international map of volleyball after the women's Grand Prix in September 1998.

The cream of country's talent, qualifiers of Surat and Payyanur legs will fight for supremacyin the round robin league-cum-play-off final championship. Defending champions Tamil Nadu, who topped the Surat leg, have a balanced side. They have in them Tulsi Reddy, India's main setter, Harun Khan, captain of junior India team at the Asian Championship at Teheran, Anand Kurup and M S Rajesh.

Sayee Krishnan's ability to spike effectively from the backcourt should weigh in favour of hosts. Moreover, Tamil Nadu have the advantage of playing in front of home crowd.

Punjab, the national champions who shocked Tamil Nadu at Salem National final recently, could have been the ideal ones to challenge the hosts, but are now plagued by injuries and drop outs. Aamir Singh, skipper of Indian team has left to Qatar to play the professional league whereas Surjit Singh and Ratan Lal are in the injured list.

Now it will be Kerala, the toppers at Payyanur leg, who can make a match to figure in the final. Much depends on Tom Joseph, a player with immense potential, who has the capacity to unsettle the rivals. Shouldhe click, it will be tough stopping him. Raj Vinod and Biju Thomas are experienced spikers and on a given day can upset the calculations of any team.

Services, Andhra Pradesh and Railways do have a sprinkle of experience and youth. Railways still rely on the services of P V Ramana and Abu Backer who have seldom let down the team. The new ones lending support will be Selvaraj, Sunil and Bairavan, the libero. For Andhra Venkatanaryana, India's former setter is still the state's best. However, he will have to make do with Singa Rao and Jayaprakash.

On the distaff side, Indian Railways who have won the national title 17 times, winning this championship should be a formality. Mini Elizabeth, Geetha Raju, Vini Thomas in the offence and seasoned Vaishali, the country's best setter in their ranks should add one more title to their kitty.

Karnataka have been strengthened by the inclusion of former Railway player Sangeetha Rao. For Kerala, Anu Jacob and Mini Mol as their setter have to shoulder the responsibilityin the absence of Sunu Jacob. It will be between these two for the second place. For Tamil Nadu, with one international in Gayathri, the going will be tough.

International umpire Benny Coonghe, Ajit Rande (Mah) and Ramamurthy (International referees candidates), Porushotham (Kar) and Mohan Rao (AP) are the five referees invited. They will be assisted by local umpires.