Kerala volleyball team takes sweet revenge on sports council at national games

DEHRADUN: No jersey kit, No coaching camp and No air tickets. Amidst this disregard from the Kerala Sports Council, the Kerala volleyball team defeated the odds to win big at the national games. The women’s team won gold while the men’s team ended up winning silver. After the small legal bout, the teams represented Kerala with the permission of the High Court.

The opportunity came when the single bench and division bench of the High Court dismissed the plea filed by the Technical Committee of the Sports Council, asking the court to prevent the volleyball team from participating in the National Games. Players of other events were provided with flight tickets but the volleyball team that came out successful with the court verdict was denied the luxury.

The council said there was no law to provide financial assistance to the team selected by the Kerala Volleyball Association, which they earlier banned.

• The Kerala Olympic Association and the Kerala Volleyball Association selected the women's and men's teams for the National Games on the instructions of the Indian Olympic Association.

• After banning the Kerala Volleyball Association, the Sports Council Technical Committee was formed and another team was selected.

• Only teams recognized by the Indian Olympic Association can participate in the National Games. However, the technical committee approached the High Court against this but to no avail.