Volleyball: Punjab, Andhra win bronze

By Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, NOV. 24. Punjab saved itself from the blushes as it redeemed some pride for the home State by winning the bronze medal in the men's section of the National Games volleyball competition here on Saturday.

The defending champion, having outwitted by Tamil Nadu in the semifinals on Friday evening, put up a spirited show against Andhra Pradesh and won 3-1 at the Guru Nanak Stadium indoor complex here.

International Pritpal Singh, the expert blocker inspired a rattled Punjab by winning some classy points. With the capacity crowd rooting for Punjab, it was but natural for the host spikers to give it all. Punjab won the first set 25-21, but AP skipper V. Ravikanth Reddy led his team to a 25-23 win in the second set.

With the scores level, AP went for the kill with Ramachandra Raju and P. V. Ramana providing early points in the third. It was the combination of Jagbir Singh and Suraj Prakash that helped Punjab make a match of the third set. After a sea-saw battle, Punjab won it 25-23.

The fourth was again a thriller and after the scorer were level 24-24, Jagbir gave Punjab one point lead and then captain Ratan Lal spiked the winner.

In the women's section, Andhra Pradesh defeated Karnataka 25-21, 25-12, 19-25, 25-19. Internationals P. Radhika, P. Nagavardhini and Dhana Laxmi came to the rescue of the National champion. For Karnataka, Mamatha Shetty, Surpiya and Hemalata starred but their performance was not enough to carry them to the bronze medal.

lThe results (third place play-off): Men: Punjab bt Andhra Pradesh 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 26-24).

Women: Andhra Pradesh bt Karnataka 3-1 (25-21, 25-12, 19-25, 25- 19).

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Section  : Sport
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