Kolkata : Bengaluru Torpedoes began their campaign in the third season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 with a 16-14, 14-16, 15-13, 15-10 win over the Kolkata Thunderbolts at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Thursday. Thomas Heptinstall was named Player of the Match.
Rahul delivered his super serve special as Kolkata Thunderbolts took early control. Skipper Ashwal Rai joined the party and Bengaluru found little answers for Kolkata’s aggressive serves. But coach David Lee showcased his tactical mindset, switching play to Srajan, who brought Bengaluru back with powerful serves. Showcasing his magic along the lines, Heptinstall nudged Torpedoes marginally ahead.
Kolkata turned to Vinit Rai, who served up solid gameplay to turn the tables again. The passing from Kolkata improved as the game went on, while Torpedoes hurt themselves with unforced errors. The topsy-turvy battle turned into contest between the outside hitters with Vinit going against Heptinstall.
Speaking after the match and reflecting back on what went wrong, head coach Rahman Mohammadrad said, “During pre-season camp in Mysore, all the players in the squad trained exceptionally well so keeping that in mind, I expected a bit more from the team. However, I believe my team has potential to be the best from what I saw yesterday. They have the fighting spirit and the motivation to win match. They just need to be focused.”
Kolkata Thunderbolts next face against last season’s winners, Ahmedabad Defenders, who are coming on back of a sensational win against Chennai Blitz in their opening match. Talking about how he plans to approach this game, Mohammadrad said, “All nine teams in the league are really good and have enough power to become the champions. We cannot take any match lightly, so for us every match is like a final and we will plan for every match accordingly. Ahmedabad Defenders are a strong squad but we will put up our best performance against them and I hope the result will be in our favour.”
The coach from Iran also expressed his thoughts on Ashwal Rai leading the Kolkata Thunderbolts from the front. He shared, “Ashwal has a lot of experience in this capacity. Everyone in our team look up to him. He is a true leader and is always inspiring the players around him to give their best. I am extremely happy to see him as a captain of our team.”
Coach David’s high-risk, high-reward strategy paid rewards as Heptinstall made the most of his height advantage, splitting the gap between two Kolkata blockers. Vinit continued to remain a threat in Kolkata’s corner, despite blockers Srajan and Mujeeb trying to block attacks from the middle. Onur Cukur added more spark to Kolkata’s attacks with brilliant passing. But Torpedoes maintained their discipline in defence, and with a thrilling super point, picked a stunning win.
Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.
The highly anticipated RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 powered by A23 commenced with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on February 15, Chennai. Bollywood Superstar and Fitness Icon Hrithik Roshan lent his star power to RuPay PVL Season 3 as the esteemed brand ambassador, adding an extra excitement to the league. The Opening Ceremony witnessed the convergence of distinguished personalities from sports and entertainment including Team Owners, Captains and the honored Sports Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking the beginning of exhilarating clashes among nine franchises. In the third edition this year, the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, featured nine franchises – Hyderabad Black Hawks, Ahmedabad Defenders, Kolkata Thunderbolts, Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Mumbai Meteors, and the latest addition, Delhi Toofans.
The event was meticulously planned to ensure seamless and captivating experience for both on-site spectators and viewers tuning in through broadcast channels. As Owners and Captains led their teams onto the stage, a glimpse of each team’s culture showcased at the event. They pledged their commitment to uphold the spirit of fair play, ensuring integrity and sportsmanship throughout the season.
Kolkata Thunderbolt’s Principal Owner & Chairman Mr. Pawan Kumar Patodia and the Team Captain, Ashwal Rai received special recognition from commentators as strong contenders, given their past successes. The newest addition to the league, Mr. Alok Sanghi, representing the Delhi Toofans franchise, added to the anticipation. Ahmedabad Defenders proudly brought out the Rolling Trophy, officially opening the tournament. The unveiling of the vibrant official match jerseys added an extra layer of excitement, showcasing the personality of each team.
