MARGAO
Hosts Cuncolim Union, Goa got the better of Punjab Police 25-23, 29-30, 25-11, 25-23 to emerge champions in the Tata Sky All India Volleyball Championship, organised by Cuncolim Union in a pulsating final at a packed floodlit volleyball court in Cuncolim on Sunday night.
Cuncolim Union, who shocked BPCL in the semifinal on Saturday, were backed by the home crowd and put up a superlative display to grab the first set 25-23. A Karthik was in terrific form with mesmerising smashes and intelligent drops while Goa's Rama (Pappu) Dhawaskar was equally impressive for the hosts. Punjab Police who stunned inaugural champions ONGC, Dehradun in the other semi-final gave good account of themselves and fought gallantly to win the the second set 30-29 with former India captain Gurinder Singh, with his powerful smashes, a treat to watch.
The crowds threw their weight behind the Cuncolim Union lads and got their money's worth as the local team ran away with the third set 25-11. Cuncolim Union never took their foot off the accelerator, winning the fourth set 25-23.
ONGC defeated BPCL 25-19, 25-21, 25-21 to clinch the third place. Cuncolim Union were richer by Rs one lakh and got a glittering trophy while Punjab Police had to settle for Rs 75,000. Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado; Lavita Mascarenhas, Chairperson of Cuncolim Municipal Council; Elvis Gomes, Chairman of Organzing Committee, Director of Municipal Administration and GFA President; Pandarinath Niak, Chief Officer of CMC and Irwin Soares, Vice-president of Volleyball Federation of India. The tournament was sponsored by Tata Sky.
