The Hindu : SCR is new women's champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 06, 2002

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

SCR is new women's champion

By M.C. Raman

Tirupur May 5. South Central Railway, Secunderabad, ended the domination of Southern Railway and became the new women's champion, beating Bangalore Club at 25-23, 17-25, 25-17, 25-17 in front of over 12,000 specatators in the TSET's National league volleyball championship at the Nanjappa School ground here on Sunday. Southern Railway, Chennai, rallied strongly to beat Haryana SIDC 17-25, 13-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-10 and claimede the third spot.

SCR lost only match - against GKM Foundation in the first phase - in the whole championship and in the four-team super league it kept its slate clean, beating all the three rivals and emerged winner. GKM Foundation did not qualify for the second phase. When SCR lowered the colours of 2000 Federation Cup champion Southern Railway on Saturday night at 25-15, 25-14, 28-26 it became clear that the Secunderabad squad would be the champion. Having crossed the major hurdle, it did not have problem in wresting the title, getting the better of Bangalore Club, which took lead in every set but could not consolidate its position.

Even in Inter-Railway competition, SCR and Southern Railway are archrivals. They always try to settle scores. But this time Southern Railway was unlucky, as it could not field its full team against SCR. SCR struggled against Bangalore Club which did well in spiking. Supriya, a good away ball hitter, Tejaswini and Amitha helped their team to put SCR on the mat in every set. In fact, they exposed their poor defence while wresting the second set. Setter Shyla Thomas did a neat job though the first pass was not steady at times.

Bangalore Club unusually played with tremendous confidence. More than their spiking it was their cleverness in placing the ball that enabled the team to challenge the stronger SCR, which enjoyed height advantage. Nagavardini, Shazia Sheikh, Srilatha and Uma combined well in double block right through the championship.

However, the team was vulnerable to drops. Bangalore Club did just that. Its sharp finish and quick drops rattled the rival. But SCR made it up with its spiking. Nagavardini, the tallest of the lot but with less jump, hit from close to the net. But it was Srilatha's day in attack. From the beginning she gave the team an edge. Uma and Shazia backed them. Setter Jothi was steady and neat. Though the team was down by six points at times, SCR rallied strongly, barring in the second set.

Late last night, Kochi Refineries set up its title clash with Indian Overseas Bank by snuffing out Haryana SDIC's challenge. Refineries wrapped up the match in 60 minutes at 25-21, 25-18, 25-22 in a match that went past 1.30 a.m. And it was played under steady drizzle.

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