Sundaram hopeful of TN players getting India call-up

A team that has a wealth of experience shrugged off that loss, regrouped and went on a winning spree that ended with it retaining the trophy. The victorious coach, P Sundaram, cut a happy figure soon after his team made short work of a strong SRM. 

“I couldn’t have asked for a better showing from my team. “I thought the match would be stretched to five sets but to wrap it up in just three was a wonderful effort. I wasn’t too upset after we lost the first match to Chennai Spikers. We were back in action after a long gap and the players were showing the effects of rustiness. 

“We avenged that defeat in the semi-final with a facile victory,” reflected Sundaram on his team’s successful run.

IOB came up trumps against STC Pollachi in last year’s state championship final and when asked who he regards as challengers to his team’s long-standing dominance, Sundaram replied that apart from SRM, he views Customs and Income Tax as two teams who have it in them to give IOB a good run for its money. 

“SRM has been our main rival for some time now. But I’m also impressed with how Customs and Income Tax have been shaping up. Right now, the two teams are short on experience, but they boast of some promising young talent,” added Sundaram. 

Sundaram is hopeful that he would be named the coach of the Tamil Nadu team for the upcoming National Championship that will be hosted by Kozhikode in February next year. 

“I have been the coach of TN for the last three years now and I’m expecting that I would again get the chance. We have a nice blend of youth and experience and I’m confident of doing well,” remarked Sundaram. 

On the topic of the non-inclusion of TN players in the probables for next year’s Asian Games, Sundaram hoped that a good showing during the National Championship would provide them with an opportunity to get back into the national fold.