Jimmy George
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Jimmy George (March 8, 1955 - November 30, 1987) is a legendary volley ball player from Kerala, India. Born in Peravoor, in Kannur district of Kerala, he is the first Indian volleyball player to become a professional. He played club volleyball in Italy and was regarded as one amongst the best ten Players of the world.
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[edit] Family
He was born on 8th March 1955 to George Joseph and Mary George. George Joseph, his father taught the primary lessons of volleyball to Jimmy and his brothers Jose George, Sebastian George and Francis Byju George .
Jimmy got married and has a son, Joseph George, born two months after his death.
[edit] Rise to Fame
Jimmy had great regard for Kalavoor Gopinath as a coach. Jimmy's maternal uncle Prof. M.T. Emmanuel had also been a source of perennial strength to him.The meteoric rise of this volleyball wizard started in 1970 when he became the member of the Calicut University team.
In 1973, he joined St. Thomas College, Palai and became the captain of the Kerala University team. He represented Calicut University thrice and Kerala University four times. The Kerala University won the All India Inter-University Championship in all these four years. He secured a berth in the Kerala State Team at the age of 16, in 1971, and thereafter he has represented the State nine times.
He represented the country in Tehran (1974), Bangkok (1978), and 1986 Seoul Asian Games. He was not in the Indian team in the 9th Asian Games, New Delhi as he was away abroad. He has played for India in the test matches against the Japanese Team when they visited in 1985. He was the Captain of the Indian team that played at Saudi Arabia in 1985. He led the Indian team to victory in India Gold Cup International Volleyball Tournament at Hyderabad in 1986.
Jimmy was wedded to volleyball. He quit the Medical College in 1976 to join Kerala Police and remained a member of the police team till death.
Jimmy had great vision about the future of Indian Volleyball. He had an ambitious project for catching budding talents and training them. An Asian medal was another one of his dreams. This was materialised in 1986. Shri. Achutha Kurup, the Indian Coach, later wrote that it was mainly because of Jimmy that India won the bronze medal at Seoul.
He also had a dream for winning the All India Police Championship for Kerala. This he achieved in 1985. He also dreamt of winning the National title for Kerala though it remained unfulfilled during his life time. However, in 1997, Kerala boys materialised it.
[edit] Awards
Jimmy received all major awards any Indian sportsman could dream of. The most important of it is the great Arjuna Award. Jimmy is the youngest volleyball player to win Arjuna Award at the age of 21.
He was given G.V. Raja Award in 1975 and won Manorama Award for the best Sportsman of Kerala in 1976. He was adjudged the best player in the Gulf Region while engaged with Abudhabi Sports Club from 1979-82. He was engaged with professional clubs in Italy from 1982 to 84 and 85 to 87 and was considered as one of the best attackers of the world.
Besides being a professional volleyball player, Jimmy's interests ranged from chess to swimming. He had a good collection of stamps and coins. He listened to music and was interested in para-psychology. He had a very studious mind till the end. He used to carry books and periodicals along with him in his sporting trips.
Jimmy died in a car accident in Italy on November 30th, 1987 at the age of 32.
Following his untimely demise in 1987, Jimmy's dear ones have established a trust known as Jimmy George Foundation to carry on his dreams. The Foundation has instituted an award for the best sports person of Kerala. The award is highly respected among the sports enthusiasts of Kerala. The Foundation has also instituted cash awards at St. Joseph's High School, Peravoor and at Devagiri College.
The Government of Kerala has dedicated its Indoor Stadium at Trivandrum to the memory of Jimmy George. At St. Thomas College, Pala, a volleyball stadium has been built after his name. A stadium and a road at Peravoor have been named after Jimmy. A junior tournament is being organised in Italy every year in memory of Jimmy.
The Jimmy George Club of Peravoor is also organising tournaments and coaching camps. The Italians who have seen top class volleyball players honoured Jimmy by dedicating a new indoor stadium to his memory. He remains a role model for sportsmen as a superb sportsman and above a perfect gentleman.These monuments are nothing compared to the love and admiration the followers of the game have for Jimmy and he lives on as a legend in their hearts.
