Natl Volleyball team to use Commonwealth champs as Asian rehearsal

Kolkata, July 26 (UNI) Indian volleyball squad gears up for the Asian Meet in Indonesia with the Second Commonwealth Volleyball Championship commences in the city from July 29.

The first Commonwealth Volleyball Championship was held in London in 1981. The event was won by Canada. India were the second runners-up.

The Indian team is upbeat after tying the four-match test series 2-2 in Pakistan, Rathin Roy Chaudhury, Secretary, West Bengal Volleyball Association, told UNI.

Then with a steady influx of youngsters the team got a new look and qualified for the Asian Meet to be held in Indonesia in September as the top team from Central Asia beating much higher ranked teams like Kazakystan.

However, for this tournament Indian team coach G E Sreedharan has recalled a few senior players including former India captain K J Kapil Dev.

The tournament will be played in league-cum-knockout basis with two top teams from each group entering the semi-final stage and contesting in a cross-ranked format.

While Canada and Australia are strong favourites to win this edition of the Commonwealth Championship, India could be the dark horse, he said.

The South African team have already arrived. The Nigerian team is arriving on the July 29, forcing the organisers to reschedule the fixture.

While the inaugiration will be on July 28, the final will be played on August four.

Group A-Australia, Sri lanka, Nigeria, Bangladesh, India.

Group B- Canada, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa.

UNI