Libero Anand — a game-changer with exceptional digs

The Delhi Toofans player, who feels the role has not been really acknowledged, says things are slowly changing with the advent of the PVL; the 21-year-old makes the crowd involve itself in the game through his remarkable retrieving ability and uninhibited

attacker to libero when he was in Class ◣I and there has been no looking back. At the SAI Centre in Kozhikode, Anand’s journey as a proper volleyballer began.

He represented the Kerala subjunior, junior and senior teams in the National Championships. Anand strongly believes the sport has not really acknowledged the role of liberos but it is slowly changing with the advent of PVL.

“Liberos are not valued enough because they are not getting points. But in modern volleyball, we have many important roles like reception and defence. When an opponent serves — going all out while doing it — it becomes difficult to receive the ball. Liberos do it. That’s one of the main points of defence. PVL is changing the perception of libero,” he said.

Liberos are generally agile, athletic and alert, and according to Anand, they need courage to showcase their talent. “We need courage to dig the balls, The mindset is important. We need courage to save the team. If the ball is going far from us, we need the courage to dive,” he said.

His celebration of jumping high and pumping his fist when his team wins a point is a delight to watch. Anand said it is his style and he celebrates it in the same way when he or his team wins a point.

“I do it if anyone from my team wins a point. I just need to celebrate. In my mind, I always think I have to take my point and you need to celebrate every point,” said Anand, a huge fan of French libero Jenia Grebennikov.

Learning from foreigners

This is his third season in the PVL. Having featured in the previous two editions for Hyderabad Black Hawks, Anand is revelling in his role for Toofans. He said he has learnt a lot from the foreigners in the league.

“The league has helped me become a professional as the foreigners have taught me many things, especially, Lazar Dodic (Serbia) and Daniel Aponza (Colombia).

They tell me how to ‘dig’ and the art of movements.”

Anand emphasised that there is a lot of difference between the playing styles of India and Europe. In foreign leagues, attackers have power and precision while the liberos’ defence is topclass, which forces one to be at his best all the time.

“However, we need to change many things to get better and PVL is the right step in that direction,” said Anand.

It’s not just the fans and Toofans teammates who have appreciated Anand. Mumbai Metors’ libero Hector Mata of Venezuela is all praise for the youngster.

“Hector said I am doing good and have all the qualities to play in foreign leagues. That means a lot coming from a foreigner of a rival club,” said Anand.

He, however, has an unfinished dream. “I want to be in the National senior team. That’s my dream. I was in the National camp last year but was not selected and I hope to be named in the coming years,” he said.

DLiberos are generally agile, athletic and alert, and according to Anand, they need courage to showcase their talent

DAnand’s dream is to break into the Indian senior team

DAfter seeing one of his diving photos and of Anand’s on twitter, former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes wrote: “At least you (Anand) managed to get into the same frame as the ball — I need to work on my reach!