Even the best laid plans go awry at times by events beyond one's control. It has happened to IOB, the organiser of the IOB platinum jubilee National club volleyball championship.
Rain has not only forced a shift of venue from the Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium open courts to the Montford indoor facility but also put off the start of the championship by a day to Monday.
On Sunday, the organising committee and the VFI Secretary-General K. Murugan had a meeting to take stock of the situation. Even though there were intervals of rain-free moments, the IOB sports officer and organising secretary Aezaz Ahmed was clear that the shift of venue was to ensure there was no interruption in the competition right through. So instead of clay court, the teams will now play on terraflex indoor courts.
How this will affect the pace or style of play only time will tell but experience is the strength of each team and that should ensure smooth transition.
Meanwhile, every effort is being made to get the terraflex sheet rolled in post haste at the Montford indoor facility which is situated within the Santhome High School campus.
The one day delay in the start meant a re-scheduling of matches to ensure that the championship finished as earlier planned on December 3.
With matches scheduled in both sessions of the day, the championship is headed for some hectic activity.
The Chairman and Managing Director of IOB, M. Narendra, will inaugurate the championship in the presence of B. Sivanthi Adityan, President, Volleyball Federation of India and A.K. Bansal, Executive Director, IOB, among others.
Monday's matches: Women: SAI Tellichery v Dr. Sivanthi Club, Southern Railway v KSEB; Central Railway v Eastern Railway. Men: IOB v Indian Navy, BPCL v Punjab Police, HSIIDC v Southern Railway.
