Jimmy George: India's Volleyball Star's Italian Legacy

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India's Greatest Volleyball Player Became a Favourite in Italy - Jimmy George.

Jimmy George is not a household name for most Indians. But tales of his exploits on the volleyball court stretch from Peravoor in Kerala, where he was born, all the way to Montichiari in Italy, where the city mayor opened an indoor stadium in his memory in 1994.

Kerala's very own - Jimmy George

Born on 8 March 1955 in Peravoor, Jimmy George was the second among eight sons born to Joseph and Mary George.

He grew up in a household where his passion for volleyball was strong, since Joseph was a talented university-level player in his youth. In fact, four of the eight George brothers would go on to represent Kerala at the nationals.

But Jimmy George was more than a natural athlete and excelled in many sports, including swimming and chess. But volleyball was always his first love.

Barely 18, he was captain of the Kerala University team and lead them to four successive All India Inter-University Championship titles between 1973 and 1976.

During this period, he also broke through into the Indian setup and was selected for the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. India didn't get past the group stages, but George's talent at 19 was unbelievable.

Jimmy's Career

Jimmy George is to Indian volleyball what Sachin Tendulkar is to Indian cricket – a literal God.

The towering 6'2" spiker from Kerala, often dubbed the God of Indian volleyball, never quite found the fame or recognition Tendulkar or even his sister-in-law Anju Bobby George, one of India's track and field greats got in India.

But Jimmy George's contribution to Indian sports is just as legendary.

Jimmy was a rare world-class volleyball player to have come from India. He was blessed with natural talent, his jump was extraordinary but it was sheer determination and single-minded pursuit to enhance his skills that led to Jimmy rubbing shoulders with the best during his sojourn in Italy.

During his time in Italy, Jimmy played with some of the best players in the world. He experimented with different playing styles during his time here but unfortunately could pass on very little of his experience to his teammates back home.

Jimmy, the player

Jimmy kept improving his game as he started going places. Before Jimmy left India to play for the Abu Dhabi Sports Club, he had already played in two Asian Games (Tehran, 1974 and Bangkok 1978) with the national team.

A three-year stint in the UAE was followed by a chance to play in Italy for Pallavolo Treviso. Later, Jimmy also went on to play for Pallavolo Gabeca.

Jimmy played with some of the world's best players during his time in Italy and that helped immensely in his development as a player. At the same time, Jimmy also experimented with his style to ensure he flourishes at the highest levels.

After the silver medal at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games, the Indian men's team's crowning glory came in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games where the team won a bronze medal.

Jimmy was part of a dream team comprising Cyril Valloor, Abdul Basith, Dalel Singh Ror, Sukhpal Singh, GE Sridharan, K Udayakumar, PV Ramana (PV Sindhu's father) – all of them were honored with the Arjuna Award.

Jimmy's last game in India was a unique one where all eight brothers played in one team against a Kerala select side in 1987.

This was a dream of his father and it took place in their hometown of Peravoor. Not surprisingly, the match ended in favor of the George Brothers.

On 30 November 1987, Jimmy died in a car accident in Italy. India lost a world-class sportsman, family, and friends lost somebody who had a profound influence on their lives and fans lost their favorite sporting hero.

Jimmy's legacy

Jimmy's family and friends have been doing their best to keep his legacy alive so that he could inspire future generations.

In 1988, the family started a Jimmy George Foundation and in 1989, Jimmy George Award was instituted for the best sportspersons in Kerala.

Jimmy made a lasting impression in Italy as well. After his death, the then Mayor of Montichiari opened an indoor stadium in honor of Jimmy.

What made him world-class

Jimmy's ex-teammate Ramana Rao, said, "He had what is called the absolute jump — more than a metre above the ground — which in the 70s and 80s was very rare in India. Volleyball is all about defying gravity, but Jimmy's was the most stylish jumper because he managed a little air rest where he could stop in flight for a fraction of a second."

Going further, the spiker/attacker brought the jump service to Indian volleyball, which is today standard practice in the world game, and a general level of professionalism.

When the Seoul Asian Games came around in 1986, George was among the 10 best spikers/attackers in the world. In the tournament, he played his heart out.

It's truly one of the most remarkable stories in the history of Indian sports.