Rain keeps MEG, Postal waiting

Madras Engineers Group (MEG) and Postal will now have to wait to know their fate after heavy rains washed out their first phase league match of the 19th State ‘A’ Division volleyball championship at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Friday.

The first match of the day between Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was also rained out. Both the matches have now been postponed to Sunday morning.  

MEG, who are in the seven- team Group A, have not yet scored a point in the tournament losing the four matches they have played so far.

The Sappers have an extra game, their earlier postponed match against South Western Railway (SWR) will be played on Saturday, compared to Postal who have only one game remaining against MEG.

But Postal have the advantage of two points in their kitty after their victory against SWR in the earlier stages of the championship. In the four-team Group B, ITI, who have three points, could go through to the second phase on the margin of defeats even if they crash to a three-set defeat against BEL.

ITI are on three points after a three-set victory against SAI and then succumbed to defeat in four sets when they faced Sports Hostel.

BEL have lost the two matches they played in three sets each while SAI, with three points, lost one match in a three-setter and gave a walkover to Sports Hostel in their other match.

SAI’s only victory came against BEL. Sports Hostel are already through to the second phase with eight points.

On Saturday, MEG will be up against SWR and Karnataka State Police (KSP) will lock horns with Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in an inconsequential match as both teams have advanced to the second phase.