Volleying around

With 28 teams spiking it out across the net, the first ever All Parsees floodlit volleyball (direct and indirect) and throw ball tournament organized by Parel’s A. H. Wadia Baug Welfare Centre saw eight days of sporting action. Last year the Baug had hosted its first 3 x 3 basketball tournament on home territory.

"We need to respect and salute the spirit of those players who do not have adequate space or infrastructure to practice and play the game in their baugs, who have yet shown so much talent and set high standards in All Parsees volleyball,” declared Arzan Singpurwalla, joint honorary secretary of the Welfare Centre.

Action aplenty from January 31-February 7, 2004 saw teams travel to the Baug from the city and suburbs — the C. J. (Cowasjee Jehangir) Colony, Gamadia Colony, Tata Blocks, Dadar Parsi Col-ony, Kashinath Colony, Shapur Baug, Malcolm Baug, Nowroz Baug, the team from far-off Vasai... The festive atmosphere furthered camaraderie while vociferous home and visiting team supporters sharpened competitive skills.

In the direct volleyball final, the C. J. Colony ‘A’ team prevailed over the men from Malcolm Baug who went down fighting, despite the fact that they were one player short, states Singpurwalla. Ruzbeh Gandhi from C. J. Colony was judged player of the tournament, Malcolm Baug’s Sami Patel was declared the most upcoming player. In indirect volleyball, the two hot favorites — Wadia Sports Club (WSC) and Spikers — traded power-packed punches, with WSC winning 3-1. Behram Kotwal of the WSC was the player of the tournament, while the team from Shapur Baug was adjudged the most upcoming team.

In the throw ball finals, the Wadia Baug team took on the girls from C. J. Colony. Losing the first game, C. J. fought back to wrap up the final 2-1. C. J.’s Fergish Mistry was the player of the tournament, while Zenia Antalia of Wadia Baug was declared the most promising player.

"It is the Welfare Centre’s endeavor and dream to host this event on an even bigger scale in the years to come,” states Singpurwalla, acknowledging the support received form the World Zoroastrian Organisation through Dinshaw Tamboly which helped them build the volleyball court.

Two veterans of All Parsees volleyball — Zarir Shroff of WSC and Farhad Irani of Spikers — put the event together in a matter of a few days, states Singpurwalla, with assistance from members of the Welfare Centre and volunteers who kept scores and helped the referees as linesmen. Lending financial support once again to a sporting event were Peekay Wines, Union Press and the House of Wibs.