Tezpur/Guwahati, June 19: It has come as a double treat for the Assam volleyball fraternity.

Abhijit Bhattacharyya of Tezpur has been named captain of the national volleyball team that will take part in the three-day World Cup pre-qualifying meet in Chennai from next Friday.

Again, Raju Borah of Jorhat has also earned the honour of officiating in the under-21 world championship, to be held at Visakhapatnam from August 6 to 14.

The Volleyball Federation of India today informed its Assam unit about the nomination of Borah, a national referee, by the International Volleyball Federation as ?scorer/ assistant scorer/line judge? at the world meet. He has been asked to reach the venue by August 2.

Though Borah could not be contacted, Abhijit?s appointment has made the sporting fraternity and his family jubilant. Coming from a family of sportspersons, Abhijit was born in 1978 and has been a member of the national team since his junior days. He is at present employed by the ONGC in Dehradun and was also a member of the squads for the 2002 Asian Games and the 1999 and 2004 SAF Games.

He is the son of former state volleyballer Ganga Charan Bhattacharyya, who was naturally elated at his son?s appointment.

Sources in the Assam Volleyball Association said Abhijit?s appointment was only to be expected. ?It was not surprising, he has been one of the key members of the team for some time. Being one of the key blockers, his experience swung the decision in his favour. Both developments are great news for the followers of the game in the state. Let?s hope their achievements inspire others,? a senior official of the state association said.

Tezpur District Sports Association president Bizit Saikia and vice-president S.E. Alam said it is the first time that anybody from Assam has been named captain of the national volleyball team.