Pro Volleyball | Combined team effort has ensured success for Chennai Spartans, opines Akhin GS
Chennai Spartans’ defender Akhin GS has mentioned that the combined effort that the team has put up during the league matches and the semi-final helped the side come this far in the tournament. The Spartans will take on Calicut Heroes, the unbeaten side in the league, in the final today in Chennai.
The inaugural edition of the Pro Volleyball tournament will come to an end with the summit clash between Chennai Spartans and the Calicut Heroes to be held in the evening at Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The home team is expected to get huge support in Chennai against Calicut. On the other hand, the Heroes have remained unbeaten so far in the league and they had an easy game in the first semi-final as they got the better of U Mumba Volley 3-0 (15-12, 15-9, 16-14).
After winning a thrilling semi-final match against a strong Kochi Blue Spikers side, the Spartans will try to bank on the combined effort by the players to win the title today. The Chennai-based franchise had to battle it out hard against the Blue Spikers as the second semi-final match went to the decider.
Speaking exclusively to SportsCafe before the final encounter, Chennai blocker Akhin said, “Our team is very confident and our coach, management and all the support staff have done a lot of hard work in making us well prepared. We are only motivated to win the championship and are trying all the possibilities for the final game. Calicut is also one of the best teams in the league but our team is dedicated to winning the title this year.”
“Volleyball is not an individual sport. It is the combined team effort that helped do well in the tournament. We performed together as a unit and that is what matters for us in the league. All the members have done well so far and we will also get a good game in the final.”
 © Pro VolleyballThe Pro Volleyball was started on February 2 with six city-based franchises from across the country taking part in the competition hosted in Kochi and Chennai. After the round-robin matches in the league stage, Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Chennai Spartans and U Mumba Volley made it to the top four. Chennai had finished the league stage at the third position with only four points from five matches. The league is one such platform where many Indian volleyball players got an opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a good crowd and with the live telecast. According to
“I want to thank VFI (Volleyball Federation of India), Baseline and also all the team members and players. Indian volleyball has now turned into a professional sport with the start of this league. As an India international, I always had a proper diet and nutrition but now I am getting a lot more to know from all these,” the Chennai blocker explained.
“This is such a big platform and a wonderful opportunity with many Olympians and other international players like Rudy playing for various teams here. The foreign players and senior India players are sharing their inputs and experience with many youngsters in the league. This is really a chance to develop the sport from the grassroots level.”
The 27-year-old volleyball player was a part of the Indian team in the Jakarta Asian Games last year and he sounds confident of doing well in his career after the completion of the league. He is quite hopeful with the platform that he is getting in the league and is delighted with the performance in the inaugural season of the league.Â
“Like all other players, it is a great platform for me as well. I want to be a part of the Chennai Spartans in the second edition of the league and want to play like the way we all did this year. I am very happy with the team and its performance this year. Now, our aim is to win the title this season,” the blocker concluded.Â