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India with tough
assignment in U-21 tournament
Chennai, India, March 30, 2005 - Hosts India have been drawn
in a tough group along with Asian giant Korea and Serbia
Montenegro for the Under-21 Junior Men's World Volleyball
Championship to be held in the steel city of Visakhapatnam,
India from August 6-14, 2005.
According to the drawing of lots, completed at a glittering
function on Monday by FIVB Technical Supervisor, Katsumi
Wakao of Japan in the presence of Volleyball Federation of
India (VFI) President and FIVB Executive-Vice-President B
Sivanthi Adityan, India has been drawn in pool A with Serbia
Montenegro, Russia, Cuba, Korea and Morocco and they will
open their campaign with a match against Morocco on the
opening day of the tournament. India needs to win a minimum
of two matches in pool 'A' to progress to the
league-cum-knockout stage.
Pool 'B' consists of teams from Iran, Tunisia, Germany, the
Netherlands, Brazil and USA.
“India's chances to win a medal are good based on their
performance for the last two years,” Mr. Adityan said. “If
our team plays to their potential, we are sure to win the
gold medal. The Volleyball Federation of India has given
them enough exposure and the team should do well to win the
medal.”
The performance of the Indian youth and junior players has
been excellent in the last four years according to Mr.
Adityan thanks to the steps taken by the VFI to develop the
game in the country. The Indian U21 team is presently
undergoing a preparatory camp in Bangalore for the
prestigious tournament. “We are arranging to send the team
on a tour to Europe to play a series of matches in at least
two countries, before they finally assemble for the
tournament,” Mr Adityan said.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Commercial Taxes N
Konthala Ramakrishna said, “both the Andhra Pradesh and
Union governments would offer substantial help for conduct
of the event in Vishakapatnam. The State government would
pay for importing the latest equipment and also to meet
local transport and other arrangements.” He said former
Andhra Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy, now a Member of
Parliament, would be the chairman of the organising
committee.
S Kodandaramiah, the president of the Organising Committee,
said the final match schedules would be finalised at the
earliest and Doordarshan would be telecasting the matches
live.
Story courtesy of NT Bureau
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Competition Formula