‘Need an IPL in volleyball’

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Volleyball was once the life and passion for a set of north Indian players during the 60s and they won the hearts of and accolades from several Malayalis during their visits to Kerala.

Arjuna award winner Nripjit Singh Bedi was one such player who admired the game and lived for it.

The Punjabi player, who turns 72 on June 1, was in Vadakara in Kozhikode to attend Nakshathram Virunethunu, a programme conducted to honour him and other former players and coaches.

“I used to come to Kerala and participate in about seven all-India tournaments in a year as part of the BSF team, in which I played.

Now it is sad that there are not many all-India tournaments in the state,” says Nripjit Singh Bedi, who considers Kerala his second home.

“There should be a professional league like the Indian Premier League in volleyball in the state. This state has immense potential and volleyball is very popular. So Kerala must start a league on its own to give the players a boost,” says Bedi.

“When I came to Vadakara to take part in a tournament, I still recall the number of people who collected to just catch a glimpse of me. I have never received such a warm welcome in other parts of the country,” he says.

He has played a crucial role in India’s campaign in the fourth Asian Games in 1962 in which the team won a Silver medal, the best performance by the country so far.

“The game has changed a lot. Several techniques have been introduced and India lost its position subsequently. I hope we will qualify for the Olympics this time and make history,” he says.

A proud coach, who has coached Balwant Singh Sagwal and introduced him to the national team, Bedi is still enthusiastic speaking about the training methods he gave to mould the player.

“He was a lanky player and I had to do a lot improvisation to make him fit. He was hardworking and subsequently was crowned one of the best players in India,” he says.

“During my coaching tenure with BSF, I had also come down to Kerala to scout for players. Kerala is a good place for volleyball players,” Bedi says.

However, he is not happy with the running of volleyball in Punjab. “The office bearers of the state association are no good and hence the status of the game has taken a huge plunge,” he says.