The Hindu : Customs and Central Excise triumphs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

Customs and Central Excise triumphs

Shreesh (left) and Sunil Kumar of Customs and Central Excise 1, the men's title winners in the National beach volleyball tournament at Tuticorin on Sunday. (Right): The Andhra Pradesh 1 team, G. Ramadevi (left) and Evangelina Paul, the women's title winner.

TUTICORIN MAY 25. Customs and Central Excise 1, represented by Sreesh and Sunilkumar, toppled defending champion State Bank of India 1, represented by Mohan and Pradeep John, 17-21, 21-19, 15-13 in the final of the seventh National beach volleyball championship conducted by Pearl City Beach Volleyball Club patronised by Tuticorin Port Sports Council at Tuticorin Beach Harbour Courts here on Sunday.

Customs and Central Excise pocketed Rs. 5,000 and State Bank of India got Rs. 4,000. It was a sweet revenge for Customs and Central Excise as it lost to State Bank of India in the recent National Games at Hyderabad.

Customs and Central Excise deserved the victory every bit. Sunilkumar and Sreesh played tactical game mixing caution with aggression and also made deft placements, whereas the SBI pair, though, seemed more aggressive at times, and played with doggedness and determination, however it missed the crucial points.

Customs and Central Excise started well and led 11-9 in the first set before losing 17-21. But in the second, it managed to lead 17-12 but SBI fought back and cut the lead to 18-17. However, Customs and Central Excise won 21-19.

In the decider, Customs and Central Excise once again managed to build up a 12-7 cushion but SBI fought and levelled at 12-all. However, Sunilkumar and Suresh had the final say and settle the issue at 15-13 for the title.

Andhra Pradesh 1, represented by G. Ramadevi and C.A. Evangelina Paul, won the women's title defeating Tamil Nadu 1, represented by R. Jayashree and L. Kamakoti, 21-9, 21-7.

The AP pair, which won the title in the recent National Games in Hyderabad, was easily the better side and deserved to win. For Tamil Nadu, Kamakoti tried to make fight of it, but the AP girls were too good. AP took home Rs. 4,000 and Tamil Nadu grabbed Rs. 3,000.

Earlier, both the women's semifinals ended in easy straight set victories, but the men's semifinals were a keenly contested.

Mr. N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust, presided and Mr. K. Venkataramani, Commissioner, Income Tax, Madurai, gave away the prizes.

The results: Men (final): Customs and Central Excise 1 (Sunilkumar/Sreesh) bt State Bank of India 1 (Mohan/Pradeep John) 17-21, 21-19, 15-13. Third place: AP 3 w/o AP 1. Semifinals: State Bank of India 1 bt Andhra Pradesh 3 (A. Rajkumar/Raveendra Reddy) 21-19, 9-21, 15-13; Customs and Central Excise bt Andhra Pradesh 1 (M.D. Jamulaudin/P. Krishna Reddy) 17-21, 21-18, 15-13. Quarterfinals: State Bank of India 1 bt Goa 2 (Surya Sawant/Vinodh Shrodkar) 21-19, 21-10; AP 3 bt Tamilnadu 1 (A.M. Balaji/Ramamurthy) 21-14, 21-17; Customs and Central Excise 1 bt AP 4 (Abdul Khalikh/Syed Mustafa) 21-15, 21-15; AP 1 bt Goa 1 (Ravi Shirodkar/Savi Rodrigues) 21-15, 19-21, 15-12.

Women (final): AP 1 (G. Ramadevi/Evangelina Paul) bt TN 1 (R. Jayashree/Kamakoti) 21-9, 21-7. Third place: TN 2 (S. Devi/S. Selvakumar) bt Goa 2 (Milagrinamascas/Lavina Rodrigues) 21-13, 21-10. Semifinals: AP 1 bt Goa 2 21-3, 21-7; TN 1 bt TN 2 (Devi/Selvakumari) 21-15, 21-17. Quarterfinals: AP 1 bt Wild Card (M.P. Murugeswari/Chandra) 21-19, 21-8; Goa 2 bt Goa 1 (Sonali Bhagat/Beula Sebastin) 21-15, 21-15; TN 2 bt AP 2 (Kanaga Mahalakshmi/Nalini) 21-17, 21-11; TN 1 bt TN 3 (Jasleem/Hemavathy) 21-4, 21-12.

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