From volleyball to politics, Naik smashed his way to success

Panaji: was the driving force behind , a popular Ponda-based club, and represented them for several years before he quit the sport due to a shoulder injury.

The two-time former CM was a known player on the Goan volleyball circuit in the 70s and represented the state at the Senior National Volleyball Championship in 1976.

“Ravi was one of the main players for Jawahar Club and didn’t play for any other team,” said former Goa Volleyball Association (GCA) secretary and player Louis Pires. “Jawahar had a strong side and they were as good as any other team in the state.” Before politics, volleyball was his first love. Together with players like Sharad Borkar, Daniel Rodrigues, Mathias Da Costa, Subhash Kuvelkar and Cleto Caldeira, Naik made Jawahar Club a competitive team.

Volleyball, alongside football, was one of the most popular sports in Goa at the time and attracted big crowds for matches, which were played under lights. Players were given the rock star treatment.

“He was a good volleyball player and prided himself for being a teetotaller. He always said to students, ‘others drink to celebrate if they win a match or drink after losing a game, but I have not touched a drink in my life’. When speaking to them, he always stressed the importance of discipline,” said Gurunath Prabhu Khanolkar, former principal of PES College, Farmagudi.

Naik, according to Irvin Soares, the long-serving former president of the GVA, did not have an all-round game, but won points with his one dimensional smashing.

“His smashes were difficult to retrieve as he normally hit hard and deep. When I played for Jawahar Club, Ravi was a senior (player) and I was just at the start of my career. If not for shoulder and back issues, he would have played for more years,” said Soares.

Jovito Lopes, who managed the affairs of the association as secretary, remembers Naik being in charge of the Jawahar Club when they travelled to Panaji to take part in the Senior Division Volleyball League. He made all the arrangements for the players to travel from Ponda to the city. When the association did not have money to depute the junior team for the national championships, it was Naik who came to the association’s rescue.

“There were no grants available (from state govt) for junior nationals. Ravi sponsored the first junior team. He said youngsters must be encouraged and asked me to make all the arrangements. He paid in cash,” said Lopes.