NEW DELHI: The auction and player draft for the inaugural edition of the Pro Volleyball League concluded in the city on Friday after an intense bidding war for Indian players. India’s newest franchise-based professional league, an initiative of Baseline Ventures and Volleyball Federation of India (VFI), saw six foreign players picked through a draft process while 117 Indian players went under the hammer within the categories of Icon Player, Senior International, National and Under-21.
Ahmedabad Defenders didn’t hold back in acquiring the services of Ranjit Singh for Rs. 1.3 million, making him the costliest Indian player in the auction. The attacker who has represented India with distinction, was surprised and excited at the end of the day’s proceedings.
“I am excited to see what’s building up here. For all of us, this is a new chapter and hope we can live up to the expectations and faith shown in us by the team owners, federation and organizers here,” Singh said.
Amongst the top 5 expensive Indians besides Singh, Prabagaran S was picked up by the Muthoot Group-owned Kochi Blue Spikers for Rs. 1.2 million. Akhin JS was taken by Chennai Spartans for Rs. 1 million. Ronnie Screwwala-backed U Mumba Volley opted for Dipesh Kumar Sinha for Rs. 900,000 while Jerome Vineeth was picked at his base price of Rs. 800,000 by Calicut Heroes.
In the foreign player draft, the Black Hawks Hyderabad got the first pick in Round 1 and they chose Carson Clark. Paul Lotman was the second pick joining Calicut. The third pick of the foreign draft was Rudy Verhoeff joining Chennai. Tomislav Coskovic, David Lee and Novica Bjelica were picked 4th, 5th & 6th by U Mumba Volley, Kochi and Ahmedabad respectively.
Olympic Gold medalist Lee, who was drafted by Kochi, said: “I am thrilled to join the Kochi Blue Spikers and looking forward to forming a formidable outfit alongside other players in the team. The league will do a world of good not only to the players but also the sport and its fans. Can’t wait to get to India and get in the thick of action.”
Pro Volleyball League’s first season will be held in two volleyball hotbeds of India i.e. Kochi (Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium) and Chennai (Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium). Each of the six teams will have 12 players including two foreign players, one Indian icon player and two Indian U-21 players. The league will be played over a total of 18 matches with each team playing each other once in a round-robin format and the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.
Baseline Ventures co-founder and MD Tuhin Mishra said after the auction: “Our endeavour is to take this sport and everyone in the sport on platform that is world-class. The player draft and auction today shows that the sport is ready to take the leap which will take it to the next level.”
VFI secretary general Ramavtar Singh stated: “It is a known fact that well-organised leagues can give a sport much-needed shot in the arm. We expect Pro Volleyball League to do that to Volleyball. The player draft and auction is the beginning of the fillip that the sport needs.”
Pro Volleyball League Season 1 team squads –
U Mumba Volley: Tomislav Coskovic (Overseas), Dipesh Sinha (Icon, Rs. 900,000), Prince (U-21, Rs. 730,000), Pankaj Singh (Senior International, Rs. 660,000), Shubham Chaudhary (National, Rs. 550,000), Vinith Kumar (Icon, Rs. 500,000), Hardeep Singh (Senior International, Rs. 310,000), Saqlain Tarik (National, Rs. 110,000), Abhsy Kapta (National, Rs. 100,000), John Joseph (U-21, Rs. 100,000), Parshant Sardha (National, Rs. 100,000)
Kochi Blue Spikers: David Lee (Overseas), Prabhagaran S (Icon, Rs. 1.2 million), Ukkrapandian (Icon, Rs. 675,000), Manu Joseph (Senior International, Rs. 420,000), K Praveen Kumar (National, Rs. 310,000), Rohith P. (Senior International, Rs. 300,000), Suresh Khoiwal (National, Rs. 180,000), Sujoy Dutta (U-21, Rs. 150,000), Hari Parsad and Mujib (National, Rs. 100,000 each), Ankur Singh (U-21, Rs. 100,000).
Chennai Spartans: Rudy Verheoff (Overseas), Akhin JS (Icon Player, Rs. 1 million), Naveen Jacob (Senior International, Rs. 700,000), Prabhakaran P (Senior International, Rs. 520,000), Vibin George (Senior International, Rs. 480,000), K.J Dev (Senior International, Rs. 260,000), Shelton Moses (Senior International, Rs. 100,000), A Bhagyaraj and Ashwin (U-21, Rs. 100,000 each), V Hariharan and Piraisoddan (National, Rs. 100,000 each)
Calicut Heroes: Paul Lotman (Overseas), Ratheesh CK (National, Rs. 980,000), Ajith Lal C (Icon, Rs. 860,000), Jerome Vinith (Icon, Rs. 800,000), Vipul Kumar and LM Manoj (National, Rs. 300,000 each), Gagan Kumar and Sanjay (U-21, Rs. 100,000 each), Naveen Kumar and Jeetu (National, Rs. 100,000 each)
Hyderabad Black Hawks: Carlson Clark (Overseas), Muthu Samy (National, Rs. 1 million), Aswal Rai (National, Rs, 940,000), Rohit Kumar (Senior International, Rs. 730,000), Amit Kumar (Senior International, Rs. 530,000), Angu Muttu (National, Rs. 310,000), Kamlesh Khatik (Senior International, Rs. 220,000), Sonu Jhakar (U-21, Rs. 180,000), Nandi Kumar and Gurampritpal Singh (National, Rs. 100,000 each) and Chirag (U-21, Rs. 100,000).
Ahmedabad Defenders: Novica Bjielica (Overseas), Ranjit Singh (Icon, Rs. 1.3 million), Rahul Greak (National, Rs. 710,000), Gurinder Singh (Icon, Rs. 500,000), Rajat (U-21, Rs. 360,000), Vaishnav (Senior International, Rs. 310,000), Dilip Koiwal (Senior International, Rs. 300,000), Gagandeep Singh (National, Rs. 260,000), Raman Kumar (National, Rs. 160,000), Sayyad Mubarak (National, Rs. 100,000), Robin P (U-21, Rs. 100,000)
