Jimmy George

Jimmy George, born on the 8th of March in the year 1955 in Peravur, Kannur, Kerala, India was a very good volleyball player. Being a part of the Indian National Volleyball Team, he was also considered to be one of the country’s best volleyball players. He was a professional volleyball player and he also played for a club in Italy. He was the first Indian volleyball player to have achieved that feat. Jimmy was born to the Kudakachira family, which was very famous. His family resided at Thondiyil, near Kannur in Kerala. His father’s name was Joseph George and his mother’s name was Mary George.

His father was also a volleyball player and he played at the University-level. His inspiration was his father, and he learned to play volleyball from him only. He did his schooling at Saint Joseph’s High School in Peravoor. He played for his school’s volleyball team. The University of Calicut volleyball team made him a member in 1970. He went to Saint Thomas College in 1973 in Pala. Between 1973 to 1976 he represented the Kerala University four times in volleyball. During these four years this Kerala volleyball team won the competition.

Jimmy joined Kerala Police after quitting medical college and then joined the Police volleyball team. He even shifted to the Persian Gulf in order to play for the Abu Dhabi Sports Club. He then left that club and joined Colette Club in Italy to play for them for a season. He then played for System Impiani before returning to India and playing for Kerala Police. Jimmy was a part of the National volleyball team of India and represented the country in Asian Games of Seoul, Bangkok, and Tehran where the team won Bronze medals.

The Indian team which played at Abu Dhabi had Jimmy as their captain, and under his captainship Indian team won the Indian Gold Cup in International Volleyball Tournament in Hyderabad. He received the Arjuna award at the age of twenty-one. He also won the G. V. Raman Award and the Manorama Award for the best volleyball player in Kerala. Unfortunately just at the age of thirty-two, Jimmy died due to a car accident. His accident took place in Italy on the 30th of November in the year 1987. It was rather a sad day for all the citizens of Kerala, especially that of Peravoor. Thousands of them participated in the function. His body now lies at the Cemetry of Saint Joseph’s Church in Peravoor.