Our Sports Reporter
Guwahati: The first edition of the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) got underway in mid-December across 16 districts. Abhijeet Bhattacharya, the brain behind the competition, in a conversation with The Sentinel, shared his thinking related to this event. Here is the excerpt.
The Sentinel (TS): What was the idea behind the Brahmaputra Volleyball League?
Abhijeet: The idea behind this league is to engage the local community for creating a sporting environment in their respective villages. It will also provide a platform to aspiring volleyball players and give them an early exposure to professional volleyball.
TS: What was the response from the organizers?
Abhijeet: It's beyond imagination. From team's accommodation to preparation of venue-everything is perfect. All are extending helping hand to make the event a grand success. There is good turn out to witness the matches also.
TS: The competition is spread across 16 districts. How is the schedule?
Abhijeet: 33 teams in boys section and 17 in girls section are taking part in the championship. The teams are divided into three zones. Each zone has three pools and teams in those pools will face each other on home and away basis. Winner in home match will earn two points and the winner in away game will collect three points. Later champions of each pool will face each other to qualify for the final round.
TS: Away game means you need to arrange accommodation for visiting team. How do you manage this?
Abhijeet: Hats off to the local organizers. They are arranging accommodation and foods, some time even from the house, in their respective villages and till date there is no complain.
TS: Any follow up plans...
Abhijeet: Yes. I feel, by just organizing competition we can't attract too much players towards this game for a long period unless there is some follow up plans. This year nearly 500 players are participating in the championship. We have planned to select around 20 talented players from this competition and send them for an exposure trip. It will motivate the young players to spend more time with this game. In the next year we are also planning to increase the number of teams in the competition.
TS: What will be the impact of this meet in State volleyball?
Abhijeet: You will witness a lot of positive impact in the coming days. The players are getting more match practice then earlier. The district officials are also getting good opportunity to identify the talent in their respective district and they can now prepare much better team for the Inter district Volleyball championship. In the coming days state teams too would be benefitted from this meet in different ways.
Also Read: Punjab close in on knock-outs
Also Watch: Tekeli Bhonga and Other Traditional Games Mark Magh Bihu Celebrations in Moran