State volleyball meet from Dec 6

Pune Dec 2 (UNI) The inter-district volleyball championship organised by the Poona District Volleyball Association (PDVA) gets underway from December 6 at Manchar near here.

The five-day tournament has attracted enthusiastic response as 60 teams from all over the state will be vying for honours in it.

PDVA general secretary Vijay Rahirkar today told reporters that after successful organisation of the 54th senior National volleyball championship in January 2006, the Maharashtra State Volleyball Association (MSVA) has allocated the State meet to PDVA.

Considering the popularity of the game in rural areas of the state PDVA has decided to host the tournament in Manchar which has developed an ultra modern sports complex with modern facilities for the same, Rahirkar added.

MSVA honorary secretary Santosh Shetty said 35 men's teams and 25 women's teams have confirmed their participation in the state meet.

The championship, which has returned to Pune after a lapse of two decades, assumes importance as it would serve as the barometer to select the state men and women squad for the senior national championship.

Five courts will in operation as the matches will be held under floodlights on league cum knock-out basis, Shetty added.

The teams in men's section have been divided into six pools while the women's section will have five pools to be played on league basis. Two teams from each pool will qualify for the knock-out stage.

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