Shridhaan Lahldas continues family volleyball legacy at Region 5 Games
Teenager Shridhaan Lahldas from Tongaat was one of the youngest players in the SA Under-19 volleyball squad that made it to the recent final at the Region 5 Games in Namibia, continuing the family legacy in the sport.
The 16-year-old specialist setter is the son of former national team star Ryaan 'Spits' Lahldas, who led SA to many great conquests on the continental stage. Olympic participation is one of the few omissions of his stellar career.
Smashing time
Shridhaan got his first taste of the continental stage at the Region 5 Games, and it left him wanting more.
'Region 5 this year was my first international experience. The level of volleyball is quite significant compared to volleyball in South Africa. It taught everyone a lot of new things and how competitive the sport could really be,' the Grade 11 pupil at Seatides Combined School told POST on his return.
'In the semi-finals we faced off with Malawi. In the first two sets we were down and then came one of the best comebacks in Region 5 as we ended up beating them 3-2 in a five-set thriller.
'The next day we ended up playing Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, it was a sad loss because most of our main players had injuries due to that long game, so we ended up losing three straight games.'
One of the surprises for the teenage star was also the continued recognition of the Lahldas name long after dad Ryaan has stepped away from the court.
'I was shocked and amazed by how many people actually knew my father there. Some way or the other people found that I was Spits's laaitie, which is what they called me there. They started speaking about him. Some of the guys also said to me that I'm developing hands like his slowly, just give me a couple of years and I'll be on the same level as him.'
And his father could not be more proud of his son's achievement.
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