Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Sep 12: Raison Benette Rebello from Moovattumudi in Hemmady gram panchayat here stands as testimony to the adage that hard work coupled with talent and encouragement always brings results. Rebello, who grew in the midst of lush green paddy fields and the river that flows by the side of his house, has now been representing India in the volleyball matches being organized at Colombo, Sri Lanka, after securing a place in Youth India volleyball team.

This boy has risen to be the apple of eye for the people of the taluk after securing a place in the Indian team for the International Volleyball Championship League. Raison, who had taken to volleyball since childhood, has got an opportunity to represent the country at a young age. The fact that he competed with thousands of players all over the country and emerged as one of the chosen players for the national team sheerly on the basis of his talent, is highly laudable.

Raison is the son of Boniface and Jacinta Rebello from Moovattumudi village. He completed his primary education at Hemmady government higher primary school. He developed an interest in volleyball and shot put since an early age. Raison, who worked in agricultural fields and walked to school in Hemmady, naturally got physical exercise and grew strong.

After observing his prowess in sports when studying in fifth to seventh standards, Raison's teacher, Olympia, encouraged him. She led him to a selection exercise being held at Ajjarakadu Udupi for choosing children under sports quota for admission into eighth standard. Raison, who got selected there easily, got further education at Bangalore.

Raison, who is brilliant at studies, continued to excel in sports and cultivated the habit of winning prizes often in various tournaments. At present, he is studying in first PU class at Bangalore. The entire taluk sat up and took notice of Raison after his name emerged as a member of Youth India volleyball team. Raison has proved that even a boy from a rural background can dream big and emerge as a leading player if he has talent and is willing to put in hard work.

Raison was placed fourth in 38th junior national championship held at Durgapur, West Bengal, in 2012. The same year, he participated in the 39th edition of this tournament at Bikaner, Rajsthan. He secured fourth place in the national youth championship held in 2013 at Maharashtra and was placed second in the south zone senior tournament held at Tirupur Tamil Nadu in 2013, He also participated in the southern zone university level tournament held in 2014 at Tirupati.

Raison's talent has been identified and he has been felicitated at various places. His house stocks lot of mementos, medals, prizes etc. Kundapur unit of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh has also felicitated him. We hope and wish that Raison will continue to bring laurels to his native place, taluk, district, state, and country.

Olympia, teacher of Hemmady school, is elated at the success of the boy who received her encouragement at a young age. Jacinta Rebello, who is ecstatic at the achievement of her son, says her son was interested in sports activities since a very young age, and his selection under sports quota honed his skills further.