Date:08/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/08/stories/2003020805681800.htm

Sport - Volleyball

Federation Cup from today

By M.C. Raman

Triprayar Feb. 7. The 25th Federation Cup volleyball tournament gets underway here on Saturday.

When the Federation Cup tournament was conducted here in 1990 there was a new format as it became an event for clubs, abolishing the participation of State sides. HPF, Ooty, led by outstanding setter and international G.E. Sridharan, lifted its only title.

Now the format is different as the competition is for State teams, brought back in 2002. Tamil Nadu is the men's defending champion and its arch rival and last year's runner-up Punjab has pulled out of the tournament because of Police Games.

But the focus will be on new junior players who perform well here because the Indian junior team has qualified for the World championship, to be held in Teheran in August this year. So the Volleyball Federation of India is planning to strengthen the Indian team.

True, there was a sudden change in the volleyball ranking in the last National championship at Chauthala (Haryana) where Uttaranchal upstaged all the leading sides to take its maiden men's title.

Uttaranchal will challenge the defending champion Tamil Nadu, the host Kerala and another strong outfit Railways. Then there are Services, Karnataka, Andhra and Haryana to tackle.

Uttaranchal will be under tremendous pressure as it may be playing in different conditions. With the full backing of the huge crowd Kerala will be a big threat if the team is in full strength with Tom Joseph.

In the women's section, the Railways may continue its reign unless it ruins everything with erratic game. Kerala will be a strong challenger, followed by Andhra, Karnataka, Bengal and Tamil Nadu.