Date:14/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/14/stories/2008071459592000.htm

Sport - Volleyball

IOB regains men’s title

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

PROUD MOMENT: The Indian Overseas Bank team which won the Chennai District ’A’ division league in Chennai on Sunday.

Chennai: With commendable ease and elegance, Indian Overseas Bank regained the men’s title in the IOB-SRM senior division volleyball league championship on Sunday.

A must-win situation to take possession of the prize did not deter the squad which prevailed over the reigning champion, Indian Bank, in straight sets, 25-17, 25-15, 25-11, to take the top spot with 24 points, winning all the 12 matches.

That the key contest of the 13-team league ended in such an insipid note left some of the spectators, who thronged the Dr. Sivanthi Thidal at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, somewhat disappointed. If Indian Bank’s discomfiture in the final had to be defended, it could be done from the standpoint of the absence of the two important players, Satish and Sounder, who are away in the national training camp.

But it can in no way minimise the value or the quality of the show put up by Indian Overseas Bank. That the team has won all the 12 matches is sufficient commentary on the class, conformity and consistency projected under the leadership of Natarajan.

As the leader of the squad, Natarajan was the pillar of strength.

Both at the net and in mid-court, Natarajan’s presence could hardly be ignored. Some of his smashes were eye-catching for their power, trajectory and precision.

Supporting the skipper at the net was Karthikeyan, while Sivabalan produced a few stunning drop shots.

Marathon encounter

In a marathon encounter, ICF beat Southern Railway in five sets but that did not impede on the latter taking the second spot on the table with a better points average than Indian Bank which finished third.

With Mr. Walter I.Dawaran, President, Chennai District Volleyball Association presiding, all the prizes were given away by Messrs. R. Krishan and V. Krishnaswamy (IOB) and Mr. Sakthi Kumar (Panimalar College of Engineering and Technology).

The results: Indian Overseas Bank bt Indian Bank 25-17,25 15,25-11; ICF beat Southern Railway 28-30, 25-20, 14-25, 27-25, 15-13. Saturday’s matches: Armed Police bt Commando 25-23, 23-25, 19-25,25-23, 19-17; Sathyabama bt Central Excise 25-20, 25-7, 25-10. TNEB bt Chennai City Police 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 22-25, 15-10.