The stage is set as Calicut Heroes clash swords against the Kolkata Thunderbolts in the Prime Volleyball League

The Prime Volleyball League is all set to be a game changer for the sport in India. The third match of the season will see the Calicut Heroes take on a new team the Kolkata Thunderbolts.

Ahead of the match, Anu James was positive about the league and also highlighted how the Thunderbolts have a good roster with foreign players and icons coming together.

“The Volleyball League will be a really good experience for our team. It’s been nice to practice with my teammates and we are ready for the tournament. We have good international players in Matthew August & Ian Satterfield and we have fantastic icon players in Ashwal Rai and Vinit Kumar. We have the team to perform well in this competition,” he said.

James highlighted how his family has always backed him to carry on with volleyball professionally. However, he shares how living away from his father has been difficult for him. “My parents have been supportive of my volleyball career. My father is a labour worker in Kuwait and my mother is a homemaker. I have not spent a lot of time with my father. He comes to visit my mother and myself every three years. He spends three months with us whenever he comes home. I have never visited my father in Kuwait. It’s been difficult, but we are used to it now.,” the attacker added.

Similarly Ajithlal C who will be lining up for the Calicut Heroes is also very positive to face the Thunderbolts. He shared the preparations ahead of their first Prime Volleyball season opener. Speaking about the preparations he said, “Our preparations are going really well. We are waiting for tomorrow’s match. Our main focus will be to fight till the end. Whether we are winning or losing, we will keep fighting till the last point.”

Volleyball runs in Ajithlal C’s blood as his father guided him to the sport as he still plays for a club. He also shared about his humble background. He stated, “I started playing volleyball because my father is also a volleyball player. I started playing the game after the 10th standard. My family’s situation wasn’t very good and therefore I started learning the game very late in my life. My father, who has played at the district and club level, is a farmer and my mother is a homemaker. My father still continues to play for a club.”

Ahead of this match, Hyderabad Black Hawks defeated the Kochi Blue Spikers in the opening fixture of the league. Similarly, the Ahmedabad Defenders edged past the Chennai Blitz in the second game of the season. Therefore we can hope for another firecracker of a game between Kolkata and Calicut.