Twin tournament
Ten men’s volleyball teams and three women’s throwball teams comprising around 90 sportspersons participated in the 2nd All Parsi Volleyball/ Throwball Tournament in Poona. Co-organized by the Poona Zarthosti Seva Mandal (PZSM), Zoroastrian Youth Association (ZYA) and Zoroastrian Sports Association (ZSA), the players displayed "zeal, enthusiasm and a lot of Parsipanu” through the day on January 21, 2024, noted a report on the event by Zoish Motiwalla who was also a participant. There were nearly 160 spectators at the Poona Parsee Gymkhana cheering their favorite teams at the event sponsored by businessman Yohan Poonawalla.
Team Persepolis captained by Mehrdad Namiranian emerged winners in volleyball defeating Team Mavericks headed by Cyrus Malegamwala in the finals. In the throwball event, Team ZYA-A, headed by Behnaz Nanavatti, defeated Pune Zoroastrians led by Parmida Mavalwala. The winning teams were presented Rolling Trophies, medals and cash prizes. Individual prize winners in volleyball were: Varaj Pardiwala, awarded the Most Valuable Player; Jamshed Karkaria, Oldest Volleyball Player, aged 63 years; Huvarast Pithawala, Youngest Volleyball Player, aged 11 years; Veezan Avari, a boarder from J. N. Petit School, Emerging Young Player. In the women’s category, Dilzeen Naegamvala won the Youngest Throwball Player; and ZYA-B team captain Rudabeh Jokhi, the Oldest Throwball Player.
Top: organizers and participants in the Poona tournament; above, from l: team captains Mozzam Namdrin,
Mediomah Engineer, Vispi Karkaria, Mehrdad Namiranian, Parmida Mavalwala, Behnaz Nanavatti,
Cyrus Malegamwala, Ardaviraf Sinor, Sheriar Irani, Rayomand Khambatta, Pehzaan Sarfabadi
The tournament started at 8.15 a.m. with team and schedule management being controlled by the ZSA chairperson Malegamwala. The ZYA along with Mabrin Nanavatti, Farah Khambatta, Arzan Khambatta, Framroze Taraporewalla, Behnaz Nanavatti and Vispi Karkaria looked after the meticulous arrangements. Referee Arjun Rao and team maintained the scores throughout the tournament. Delicious snacks were provided by Farheez Irani and a hearty lunch by The Food Gallery.
"Soon after the announcement of the Tournament, the teams were created and we saw everyone practicing regularly,” stated PZSM joint honorary secretary Mabrin, recalling how "it all started in 2022 when I saw boys at the J. J. Colony play volleyball very skillfully” and decided to organize the Tournament. Looking at last year’s response they decided to make this a yearly event and are hoping for "a bigger response next year.”