Jimmy George
Encyclopedia
Jimmy George is often considered one of the greatest Indian volleyball players of all time. He was the first Indian volleyball player to become a professional and played club volleyball in Italy
.
. In 1970, Jimmy became a member of the University of Calicut
volleyball team. In 1973, he joined St. Thomas College, Pala
. Jimmy represented the Kerala University four times from 1973 to 1976. The Kerala team won the All India Inter-University Championship during these four years. He was the captain of the team in 1973. He secured a berth in the Kerala State Team at the age of 16, in 1971, and thereafter he represented the state nine times.
In 1976, Jimmy quit medical college to join Kerala Police
where he remained a member of the police team until his death. He took leave from the Kerala Police in 1979 and went to the Gulf to play for Abu Dhabi Sports Club. In 1982 he left Abu Dhabi to join Coletto Club at Treviso in Italy and played for them for a season. He then switched to System Impiani and played for them in 1983-84. Returning to India he rejoined Kerala Police, played his last Nationals at Kanpur in 1985 and went back to Italy to play for Arrital team. In 1987-88 he signed a contract with Eurostyle-Euroslba team at Montchiari in Brescia and it was during that period that he died in a car crash.
Jimmy played for India's national volleyball team in the Asian Games
in Tehran (1974), Bangkok (1978) and in Seoul (1986) where India won the bronze medal. He was captain of the Indian team that played at Saudi Arabia
in 1985, and led the Indian team to victory in India Gold Cup International Volleyball Tournament at Hyderabad in 1986.
. He was given the G.V. Raja Award in 1975 and won the Manorama Award, for the best sportsman of Kerala, in 1976. He was judged the best player in the Gulf Region while playing for Abu Dhabi Sports Club, from 1979-82. He played as a professional in Italy from 1982-1984 and 1985-1987, and in his prime was considered one of the best attackers of the world. In 2000, Malayala Manorama
, one of India's largest circulated newspapers, honored him as the best sportsman of Kerala of the 20th century.
The government of Kerala dedicated its indoor stadium at Trivandrum
as the Jimmy George Indoor Stadium. At St. Thomas College, Pala, a volleyball stadium is named for him, as were a stadium and a road at Peravoor. An indoor stadium in Italy was dedicated in his memory at Montichiari
, Brescia
, and an annual junior tournament is organized in his memory. Since 1989, the Kerala Volleyball League of North America organizes the Jimmy George Super Trophy Volleyball Tournament.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Career
Jimmy George was born to the famous Kudakkachira family and learned to play volleyball from his father, a former university-level player. He played for St. Joseph's High School in PeravoorPeravoor
Peravoor is a small town in Kannur district of Kerala state, south India.Peravoor is a panchayt. This is a small town located in Kannur district. It south of Kannur and Thalaserry. Same distance from each railway station. The nearest town with hotels is Iritty. Iritty is forty kilometers from...
. In 1970, Jimmy became a member of the University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...
volleyball team. In 1973, he joined St. Thomas College, Pala
St. Thomas College, Pala
St. Thomas College, Pala was founded on 7th August 1950 by the Diocese of Palai, one of the leading educational institutions in Kerala. The College was accredited at Four Star level by NAAC in 2000 and is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. It is recognized under section 2 and 12B of...
. Jimmy represented the Kerala University four times from 1973 to 1976. The Kerala team won the All India Inter-University Championship during these four years. He was the captain of the team in 1973. He secured a berth in the Kerala State Team at the age of 16, in 1971, and thereafter he represented the state nine times.
In 1976, Jimmy quit medical college to join Kerala Police
Kerala Police
The Kerala State Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Kerala, India. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The Police training college was set up by Travancore Maharaja in Thiruvananthapuram in mid 20th centuary. In 2004,a larger Kerala...
where he remained a member of the police team until his death. He took leave from the Kerala Police in 1979 and went to the Gulf to play for Abu Dhabi Sports Club. In 1982 he left Abu Dhabi to join Coletto Club at Treviso in Italy and played for them for a season. He then switched to System Impiani and played for them in 1983-84. Returning to India he rejoined Kerala Police, played his last Nationals at Kanpur in 1985 and went back to Italy to play for Arrital team. In 1987-88 he signed a contract with Eurostyle-Euroslba team at Montchiari in Brescia and it was during that period that he died in a car crash.
Jimmy played for India's national volleyball team in the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
in Tehran (1974), Bangkok (1978) and in Seoul (1986) where India won the bronze medal. He was captain of the Indian team that played at Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in 1985, and led the Indian team to victory in India Gold Cup International Volleyball Tournament at Hyderabad in 1986.
Awards
At age 21, Jimmy George was the youngest volleyball player to win the Arjuna AwardArjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
. He was given the G.V. Raja Award in 1975 and won the Manorama Award, for the best sportsman of Kerala, in 1976. He was judged the best player in the Gulf Region while playing for Abu Dhabi Sports Club, from 1979-82. He played as a professional in Italy from 1982-1984 and 1985-1987, and in his prime was considered one of the best attackers of the world. In 2000, Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
, one of India's largest circulated newspapers, honored him as the best sportsman of Kerala of the 20th century.
Early death
Jimmy died in a car accident in Italy on November 30, 1987, at the age of 32. His son, Joseph George, was born just two months after his death. Following his death, the Jimmy George Foundation was established, which in 1989 instituted the Jimmy George Award for best sportsperson of Kerala. The foundation also makes available cash awards at St. Joseph's High School, Peravoor, and at Devagiri College.The government of Kerala dedicated its indoor stadium at Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
as the Jimmy George Indoor Stadium. At St. Thomas College, Pala, a volleyball stadium is named for him, as were a stadium and a road at Peravoor. An indoor stadium in Italy was dedicated in his memory at Montichiari
Montichiari
Montichiari is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on December 27, 1991....
, Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, and an annual junior tournament is organized in his memory. Since 1989, the Kerala Volleyball League of North America organizes the Jimmy George Super Trophy Volleyball Tournament.