Date:07/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120760751800.htm

Sport - Volleyball

TN volleyball teams felicitated

Principal Correspondent

— PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN

REIGNING SUPREME: The Tamil Nadu sub-junior boys’ and girls’ teams which won the National volleyball championship.

CHENNAI: They arrived at the Central railway station on Saturday and headed straight to the Nehru Stadium, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever. The Tamil Nadu sub-junior boys’ and girls’ teams, which won the National volleyball championship in Jammu were felicitated at the FIVB development centre.

“The boys co-operated well,” said Johnson Selvanayagam, chief coach of the boys’ team.

“The win was mainly due to the attacking line-up of Rajesh Kumar, Vijith Kumar, Prabakaran and Bharani Dharan. Our setter Karthik was outstanding,” he added.

Toughest match

Johnson admitted that there was pressure on the team to perform as it was going for its seventh successive title. Johnson said beating U.P. was “the toughest” as the team was good and the crowd, too, was rooting for it.

The chilly weather made it even more difficult for the TN teams. S. Maheswari, the girls’ team chief coach, attributed the team’s splendid performance to preparation.

“We prepared meticulously each and every team’s strengths and weaknesses. Our defence and block were of high quality,” she said.

Pats Ragana, Haripriya

Maheswari picked out Ragana and libero Haripriya as the girls who shone.

Defeating West Bengal, the three-time successive champion, was the icing on the cake, said the coach. Each member was given Rs. 1000 and a wrist watch.