CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 :Leading volleyball teams of the country have staked their claims for the top honours in the fifth All-India Invitation Volleyball Sunil Memorial Volleyball Tournament which is being conducted by Sunil Kumar Volleyball Club at Amin (Kurukshetra) from November 28 to 30. The tournament is conducted in memory of international spiker Sunil Kumar, who was a member of the Indian Junior team. He died in a car accident in 2000.
Addressing a press conference here today, organizing secretary Balwan Singh said that national champions Haryana State Industrial Development Corportion, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (Dehradun), Punjab Police, Indian Railways, Services, Border Security Force, Uttar Pradesh Police and Haryana Police have entered into the fray. The prize carries a cash award of Rs one lakh and runners-up will take home Rs 50,000. They will also be presented trophies.
Former ace Indian forward Dhanraj Pillay and Beijing Olympics boxing bronze medalist Vajender Singh will be guest of honour at the closing closing ceremony, said Club vice president Gaurav Singh.
Volleyball stars including Balwant Singh Ballu, Amir Singh Saharan, Ranbir Singh, Sukhpal Singh, Balkar Singh, Raj Singh and Dhyan Chand Awardee Om Prakash will also be present on the occasion.
The budget for the tournament is Rs five lakh. Rohit Kumar (Yamunanagar), Kailsah Goel (Karnal), Kotak Mohindra Lift Insurance Bank, Kurukshetra adn Bani Beniwal (Kurukshetra) are the main sponsors.
Sports Authority of India coach Mohan Nargeta said that Sunil was a product of Shivalik School Volleyball Academy. Sunil brought laurels to the country by winning silver medal in the Asian Youth Volleyball Championship in Iran.
Shivalik School Principal-Director DS Bedi assured to give all possible help if the tournament was organised in Chandigarh. The organisers said that the next edition of the tournament might be conducted in Chandigarh.