The National Games came to an end on Friday, but volleyball fans here are cherishing those five days of high quality action at the V.K. Krishna Menon Indoor Stadium.
Fans who could manage seats in the gallery were lucky enough as almost the same numbers often stood outside. The organisers made arrangements for those unfortunate spectators by beaming the matches live on large screens erected outside the stadium and the nearby Corporation stadium.
“It was an amazing experience to play before such fantastic crowd,” says Jerome Vinith, the Tamil Nadu-born player who helped Kerala reach the men’s final. “I have not seen crowds like this anywhere else.”
Big stars
They saw India’s biggest stars in volleyball. Besides their perennial favourite, Tom Joseph, who showed that he is still a force to reckon with at 34. They could watch players such as S. Prabagaran (Tamil Nadu), Dilip Khoiwal (Rajasthan), Pankaj Sharma (Services), Tiji Raju (Kerala), and Pinki Bora (Karnataka).
Kozhikode spectators ensured that volleyball was a big hit. Big-time volleyball was returning to the city after 14 years; the last major event held here was the 2001 Senior National championship. Raj Vinod was part of the Kerala team that won the title at that tournament.
“I have always loved playing in Kozhikode,” says Raj, a former Indian captain. “People here know the game, unlike in other parts of the State. Here players are recognised easily by the people,” Mr. Raj says.
The Kozhikode District Volleyball Association (KDVA) is planning to bring the next Senior National championship to the city.
“We are thinking of conducting the event in Kozhikode and Vadakara,” says KDVA secretary P. Rajeevan.
Not all volleyball fans were lucky to get a seat at V.K. Krishna Menon Indoor Stadium during the Games.
