A toast to Jimmy’s bronze volley
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This October is special for Indian volleyball. Even as we nurse the wounds inflicted on the national side by a loss to Japan in the fifth place playoffs in Asian Championship, this month marks 25 years of India’s last volleyball medal victory in an Asiad.
It is also a time to remember the legendary Jimmy George, who was the soul of that historic triumph.
It was October 3, 1986, when India thrashed Japan in straight sets to win bronze in the volleyball in the Seoul Asian Games, which was believed to be Jimmy’s final match for India in the international circuit as a car accident in Italy took his life at the youthful age of 32.
“They were a class act,” says Achutha Kurup, coach of the then national team. “I am sure no Indian team has matched their will power ever since.
And Jimmy was simply outstanding that day,” says the veteran coach about his boys’ historic performance.
“Jimmy had never played in the Games till then as he had a bad knee. I remember, I had to request him to play. On that day, he played such a special match. I was fortunate to coach them,” says Kurup.
India has only been on the podium for volleyball thrice in Asiad history. Once in Tokyo in 1958, in which the team won bronze, and then in Jakarta in 1962, when the Indian side captained and coached by T.P. Nair won silver.
“Each player in the Indian team did his best that day, be it Cyril, our captain, Udayan (Udayakumar), Jimmy or Sukhpal Singh. Everyone contributed to the win and I must say with great regret that there have not been players of their quality ever since,” says Kurup
Sebastian George, Jimmy’s brother and former Kerala captain, is one of those few who dearly hold the memories of this legendary player, and his contribution to the Indian success in Seoul, very close to his heart.
He has created a virtual album, comprising the memorabilia of Indian volleyball’s history. “We are planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary and an exhibition in memory of Jimmy and every other player who was part of that success,” says Sebastian.
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