Date:30/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/30/stories/2007073059972100.htm

Sport - Volleyball

Facile win for India

S. Sabanayakan

KOLKATA: The Indian team could not have asked for a better opening round opponent than Bangladesh. Far superior technically and tactically, India handed its neighbour a thumping 3-0 defeat in Group ‘A’ in less than an hour in the second Commonwealth volleyball championship at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

But for the second set in which the Indians’ pace slackened, the first and third sets were totally dominated by the home side. The Indians made a terrific start by winning the first set 25-7 in just 15 minutes. India won the next two sets 25-18 and 25-13 in 21 and 20 minutes respectively.

“Bangladesh fought hard within its limitations,” said the Indian coach, G.E. Sridharan.

“I am happy with the boys’ showing. This being the first outing, the team did well. The team is bound to improve as the championship progresses.”

Inexperienced side

His counterpart Mohammad Golam Rasul Khan felt his team was far inferior to its opponent. “India is a very good side with tall players. Bangladesh’s international exposure is limited to the SAF Games and other regional tournaments. Our players will learn a lot from this tournament,” he said.

The smashing was accurate and G. Pradeep, Sube Singh and Sanjay Kumar put up impregnable blocks. In the attack, it was Sanjay who stood out with his angular smashes from the backcourt.

The areas of concern for the Indians could be reception and defence. “We have to improve in these areas,” admitted captain P.S. Srikanth.

Bangladesh captain and southpaw Mamun Sheikh did come up with some fine spiking but once the Indian blockers understood his range, he was bottled up, especially in the third set. Haider Ali was the other Bangladesh spiker who looked good but was never allowed to play well.

Canada upset

South Africa upset higher ranked Canada 3-2 in an absorbing Group ‘B’ league match. In an action-packed encounter that lasted 10 minutes short of two hours, South Africa won 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 16-25, 15-13.

The third game of the day saw Australia prevailing over Sri Lanka 3-0. Flaunting six Olympians, the Aussies powered their way to 25-14, 25-14, 25-18 in little over an hour’s time.