Bejawada Blockers win TAL 14th Annual Volleyball Tournament in London
LONDON: “Bejawada Blockers” emerged champions at the 14th Annual Volleyball Tournament organised by the Telugu Association of London (TAL) at the University of East London’s SportsDock on February 14, 2026.
The event brought together members of the Telugu community from across the UK and marked the official launch of TAL’s 2026 Sports Calendar. A series of sporting events, including the TAL Premier League cricket championship, will follow as part of the annual programme.
Under the leadership of Joshi Komaravalli, “Bejawada Blockers” displayed consistent form throughout the tournament to clinch the title. The “Mobile 365” team, led by Akhil, finished runners-up after a competitive final. “Palnadu Tigers”, captained by Rakesh Kamepalli, secured third place.
TAL Chairman Ravi Sabba congratulated the winners and participants for their sportsmanship and skill. He thanked trustees Satya Peddireddy, Ashok Madishetti, Ravi Mocherla, Sreedevi Aleddula, Venkat Neela and Kiran Kappeta for their support.
He also acknowledged the efforts of Sports In-Charge Sindhoora Cheruku and volunteers for organising the event. “The sporting spirit and commitment shown by participants were exemplary,” Sabba said, inviting the wider community to attend TAL’s Ugadi celebrations scheduled for March 21, 2026.
Cultural and community initiatives
TAL is a UK-registered charity established in April 2005 with the motto “Unite, Cherish and Share Telugu Culture”. The organisation conducts cultural and literary events across the year.
Its TAL Culture Centre offers weekly Telugu language classes, Bharatanatyam, Carnatic vocal and Bollywood dance sessions. The association also organises Tyagaraja Aaradhanotsavalu, Kuchipudi workshops and children’s events.
Sports and heritage contributions
As part of its sports initiatives, TAL conducts badminton, chess and volleyball tournaments, along with the TAL Premier League, a 20-20 format cricket championship.
TAL is part of the Diwali in London committee, which organises Diwali celebrations at Trafalgar Square in association with the Mayor of London.
The association has restored the memorial of Charles Philip Brown, a British-born Telugu scholar, at Kensal Green Cemetery in London in recognition of his contribution to the Telugu language. It also felicitated Charles Cotton, great-grandson of Arthur Thomas Cotton, the British engineer known for irrigation projects that benefited Telugu farmers.
TAL organises annual Ugadi celebrations in London and publishes a cultural souvenir, “Maa Telugu”. It also presents Cultural Excellence Awards and the TAL Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise contributions to the community.
TAL describes itself as a non-partisan community organisation connecting Telugu-speaking people in and around London and states that it organises events spanning nearly 40 weeks each year.
