Jimmy George

Infobox Person
name = Jimmy George


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birth_date = 8 March 1955
birth_place = Peravoor, Kannur, Kerala, India
death_date = 30 November 1987
death_place = Italy
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nationality =Indian
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known_for = Being the only Indian volleyball player to play for a professional foreign club
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employer = Kerala Police
occupation = Volley ball player
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children = Joseph George
parents = George Joseph, Mary George
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Jimmy George (born March 8, 1955 in Peravoor, died November 30, 1987) was a professional volleyball player from Kerala, India. He was the first Indian volleyball player to become a professional and played club volleyball in Italy.

Career

Jimmy George was born to the famous Thundathil family and learned to play volleyball from his father, a former university-level player. He played for St. Joseph's High School in Peravoor. In 1970, George became member of the University of Calicut volleyball team. In 1973, he joined St. Thomas College, Palai, and later became captain of the University of Kerala team. The Kerala team won the All India Inter-University Championship during these four years. He helped secure a berth in the Kerala State Team at the age of 16, in 1971, and thereafter he represented the State nine times. In 1976, George quit medical college to join Kerala Police where he remained a member of the police team until his death.

George played for India's 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.

Awards

At age 21, George was the youngest volleyball player to win the Arjuna Award. 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 Abudhabi 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.

Early death

George died in a car accident in Italy on November 30, 1987, at the age of 33. 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 a 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 as the Jimmy George Sports Complex. 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 a Jimmy George Super Trophy Volleyball Tournament.

References

*Cite web |url=http://sportal.nic.in/legenddetails.asp?sno=667&moduleid=&maincatid=59&subid=0&comid=55 Sports portal |publisher=Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports |title=Jimmy George |accessdate=2008-07-22