Guru Prasanth eyes redemption with Hyderabad hawks in PVL

After a lengthy injury layoff, star outside hitter Guru Prasanth is set to return for Hyderabad Hawks in the Premier Volleyball League, aiming to lead his side to a maiden title

Hyderabad: A gifted talent from Trichy, Guru Prasanth is expected to be the lead from the front for Hyderabad Hawks as it searches for the title in the third edition of the Premier Volleyball League in October.

The 25-year-old Guru, who made ‘outside hitter’ position his own with some telling blows which often caught the rival defense off guard for their precision and power, says that winning the trophy for Hawks is the ultimate goal for him.

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Not surprisingly, Guru is keen to brush aside the disappointment of missing the last season due to injury having been the Most Valuable Player and best attacker in the second season.

“I’m really glad they decided to retain me. Honestly, I was hoping for it because I want to perform for the team — something I couldn’t do last season,” Guru said. “This time, we’re aiming for the trophy. We want to prove ourselves, and more importantly, I want to prove myself,” said the gritty customer.

Reflecting on his injury, Guru said he suffered an ACL tear along with a horizontal meniscus tear in his medial meniscus during the FIVB Club World Championship camps in November 2023.

“That put me into full rehab for about nine months. I slowly returned to the court through smaller tournaments. It was tough in the beginning, but I gave my body the time it needed to heal — and that made all the difference,” explained Guru, owing his comeback to the crucial role played by his father during the rehab.

“Obviously, I was feeling low — mentally, it was a tough and traumatic phase. But as an athlete, you have to stay strong and maintain a positive mindset,” Guru said. “What’s done is done; the focus should always be on what lies ahead. Controlling the controllables with the right attitude really helps in healing, both physically and mentally. I was lucky to have supportive people around me, especially my family — and above all, my father, who kept me motivated throughout.,” he said.

On the PVL, Guru said it was really helping get more talent from the grassroots.

“The Indian team performed quite well in the last CAVA tournament,” Guru said. “With the support of the coach, statisticians, and analysts, the team is doing a great job on the international stage. Having access to such amenities is essential. Also, thanks to Prime Volleyball, players have improved significantly in terms of skill. Indian volleyball has seen tremendous growth over the past two years,” he said.

“They can expect us to give it our all — for the city, for the people, and for the love they continue to show us. Every Hyderabad Black Hawks fan deserves that. We’ll be playing with our hearts on the court,” signed off Guru, clearly determined to be the hawk eye of Hyderabad Hawks.