Date:22/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/22/stories/2005042209142000.htm

Sport - Volleyball

Indian Seniors `B' rallies to win

Sports Reporter

BANGALORE: The Indian Seniors `B' looked far more compact. But it needed a jolt in the form of a 23-25 first set setback to find its bearings against an inexperienced Indian Youth `B' team on the second day of the inaugural Rajiv Gandhi Cup all-India Invitation volleyball tournament at the Gandhi Maidan court here on Thursday evening.

The Senior `B' team won 23-25, 25-19, 25-13, 25-21 in 72 minutes.

When the Indian Youth side won the first set, the goodly crowd had some expectations.

But all that was soon dispelled when Shijas Mohd., Nadarajan and R. Rajiv found their rhythm.

The solid blocks that Shelton Moses and Anand Mishra put up came apart in the second and third sets as the Seniors `B' went on the rampage. Rahul was also equally effective in his counters and the Youth team looked clueless.

The Indian Seniors `A' team had few problems. It packed too many punches for Karnataka and won 25-22, 27-25, 25-9 in under an hour.

It did not matter if Tom Joseph, the livewire of the Indian national team, was off-colour as captain Abhijeet and lanky Subba Rao packed enough power for the local side.

Premjith was voted player of the matchfor the second day in succession but it was in vain. After a tight second set which Karnataka lost on extra points, the team caved in meekly.

The results: Men: Indian Seniors `A' bt Karnataka 25-22, 27-25, 25-9; Indian Seniors `B' bt India Youth `B' 23-25, 25-19, 25-13, 25-21.

On Wednesday: Indian Seniors `A' bt Indian Youth `B' 25-15, 25-10, 25-23; Indian Seniors `B' bt Indian Juniors 25-20, 26-24, 16-25, 26-28, 15-11.