Bhubaneswar to stage Junior National Volleyball Championship

Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, would host the 36th Junior (u-18) National Volleyball Champinoship, under the auspiced of Orissa Volleyball Association (OVA) at KIIT University campus from December 17 to 24. ‘‘Altogeter 52 state teams, including 24 in girls’ category, would vie for titles,’’ organising committee chairman and Ekamra MLA Ashok Chandra Panda announced at a media conference in Bhubaneswar today. This is the second time that a National event in volleyball would be staged in the state. Earlier, the Senior National Championship was conducted at Cuttack in 1958. A budgetary provision of Rs 30 lakhs has been estimated for the successful organising of the Junior National meet, which would feature a total of 136 matches. The hosting of the eight-day meet is expected to help revive the dwindling popularity of volleyball, in which Orissa has produced four internationals (Mohammad Masi-ud Zama, Lotak Bindu Dash, Jhililata Sena and Rabindra Murudi). The selection of state teams would be done through a trial, starting at KIIT University campus on October 25. Around 150 boys and 60 girls are expected to join the trial, which would be followed by a month-long coaching camp. Oranising committee secretary and Jatni MLA Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray, KIIT founder secretary Dr Achyut Samant and OVA secretary Kamalakanta Pandey were present at the media conference. Officials of the organising committee experienced a humiliating situation as mediapersons grilled them with a volley of questions on the sorry state of volleyball in the state. Pandey was at the receiving end as failed to name even the four international volleyball players of the state. PHOTO: Officials of the organising committee brief about the staging of the 36th Junior National Volleyball Championship in Bhubaneswar on Oct 14, 2009.