Coaching next gen volleyball champs

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In the midst of wee-hour fog, in an obscure hilly panchayat of Wayanad, volleyball trainer V. M. Asokan’s grooming sessions are a usual scene for the local people.

But for the 27 students, who are training diligently, and Asokan, it is a matter of pride. Else, he could not have raised 43 national players and three international players in volleyball from Noolpuzha panchayat in Wayanad.

It is the fervour and enthusiasm shown by Asokan that have made him to take the name of the panchayat up to international level in volleyball.

“It is good to see that the interest in volleyball shown by youth has never diminished, at least in the suburban parts of the State. Every year, more and more students are coming to enquire about the camp,” he said.

He says that if it was not the interest shown by the players to the game, he would have never able to groom national and international players.

Asokan is conducting volleyball training camp at St Marys Higher Secondary School in Wayanad. Two months back, he was training at Kalloor Government High School and it was from there he had made his name as a persevering trainer in volleyball.

“For better training, students need hostel facilities. So, I shifted the camp from the former school to latter for this reason. The management here has also provided good training facilities. Teachers in the school are sponsoring 10 students and another 15 are sponsored by the management. The remaining two students are learning the game at their own expenses. That’s why I thought about shifting the school,” he explained.

However, Asokan was not alone. About 20 volleyball prodigies have moved to the new school with the trainer.

Among the students he trained, P.V. Jisha (KSEB), K.T. Betsy (Railways) and Jeena John have played for the national team.

Several of his students have played for the Indian Army and various clubs outside the State. However, he is not satisfied.
“I am planning to start a volleyball academy with the help of St Mary’s school. A college-level training is also on cards. At present, the students are given five hours of training.“

“Talent hunt is also a major job in every sports training. Moreover, the students should be taller than average height to achieve good performance in the game. So the need of an academy to find and groom the students is a must,” he says.

“Earlier, importance was given to power. Now, we have to use more techniques to combat the other nations. That demanded more changes in the training regime,” he says.

Under him, Kaloor government Higher Secondary School has won the State school championship, State zonal championship and several other tournaments held in Kerala.