Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101259050300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Spikers get a boost from VPT

Special Correspondent

The Indian youth volleyball team that will participate in the Asian youth championship to be held in Colombo from October 14.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Port Trust organised a function at the Port indoor stadium here on Saturday to wish the Indian Youth volleyball team success in the Asian youth championship being held in Colombo from October 14.

The team was selected and had undergone a camp at the Port stadium since May, under the Dronacharya-Arjuna awardee G. E. Sreedharan.

Chairman in-charge of VPT M.S. Rao wished the team success at Colombo and hoped it would win back gold medal. Incidentally India won the Asian Youth title when the championship was held at the Port stadium in 2003.

Secretary of VPT and also of the Major Ports Sports Control Board D. Naresh Kumar, was chief guest of the function and presented sports kits to the team members. Vice-president of Volleyball Federation of India S. Kodandaramaiah was guest of honour.

Sports Officer of VPT and Secretary of Visakhapatnam Ports Sports Council M.V. Manikyalu presided over the function.

Administrative Officer of SAI STC T. Kishor Kumar, secretary of District Basketball Association B. Ramayya, and others were present.

The Indian team for the Asian Youth championship is: T.D. Ravikumar (captain), Gurujant Singh, T. Naresh, Harminderpal Singh, Hemendra Singh, R. Vaishnav, Navjit Singh, N. Jagadeesh, K. Sri Kapil, Ranjit Singh, Shishan Kumar and Vinod Negi.

Chief coach: G.E. Sreedharan. Coach K.V. Ramana Rao. Trainer: Abhimanyu Singh.

An international volleyball referee Patnayak is also accompanying the team to officiate in the Colombo tournament.