The inaugural season of the Prime Volleyball League (PVB) last year was a resounding success with the Calcutta franchise, Kolkata Thunderbolts, lifting the trophy in the seven-team contest.

The stage is all set for Season 2, which begins on February 4, with an eighth team in the fray, the Mumbai Meteors.

Thunderbolts captain Ashwal Rai strongly believes his team would be able to retain their title.

“Hundred per cent,” a confident Ashwal told The Telegraph from Mangalore, where the Thunderbolts are having their camp.

“Our training is going exactly the way we want it to and all of us here are highly motivated.

“But,” added Ashwal, “I don’t look at it as just defending a title. It is a new year, a new competition and it has to be won the same way I would want to win any tournament.”

And no, as a captain he does not feel any extra pressure, because “we — the entire team, the players the support staff, the owners — have now become one big family where everyone supports each other. So as a captain, there is not one per cent extra pressure,” the 6-feet-8-inches blocker said, firmly.

Unlike last year when, thanks to the pandemic, the tournament was played behind locked doors in Hyderabad, this time it will be open to audience and will be played over three venues — Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi.

Also, last year the tournament had only a domestic broadcast on Sony TV. This year Volley World has been roped in for international broadcast as well.

With two international players per team, there are 16 players who have a strong volleyball community in their respective countries. So this way the league hopes to bridge the gap between the Indian volleyball community and the rest of the world.

The more-than-expected response to the league across the country changed the perspective of the Thunderbolt owners to the game as a whole. And they decided to bring the game to the grass courts in Bengal, to involve the masses.

“We decided to develop the entire ecosystem,” said team director Sumedh Patodia. “Post Season I, we organised numerous school and college tournaments.

“We need to identify new talents as the current crop of players would age and be out in another five-six years.”

As a unique initiative, they decided to involve the Durga Puja committees which wield the most influence in a Bengal neighbourhood to popularise the game.

So, residents from 48 Durga Puja localities participated in a tournament held last August.

“Five days, 85 matches. It was a mega event with players from several districts of Bengal.

“It was a carnival-like atmosphere…music, dance and celebrations. It did much to popularise the game as a whole,” added Patodia. He pointed out that the presence of senior executives from Railways and other public sectors at their exhibition tournaments has led to some of the players landing jobs too.

As a part of the Thunderbolts’ diverse activities, captain Rai also walked the ramp at a fashion show in the city and is amused by the experience.

“Fashion show is something I have only seen in films,” laughs Rai. “Now, imagine me walking the ramp! But I did it and enjoyed it much. And by this venture, many were acquainted with the league, too.”

A series of events are lined up over the next couple of weeks. A Season II trophy tour across the city, a panel discussion along with the jersey relaunch to name a few.

Thus, on the court and off it, Prime Volleyball League and the Kolkata Thunderbolts have much to offer for the lovers of the game.