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.

“The achievement of being one of the youngest in the team, and further to that the main setter for the team, it speaks volumes of his dedication to the sport, his training regimen, the pride that he takes in the game.

"Besides making the team, he’s shown the determination and belief that the team can get into the final and do well,” he said.

“So it’s a very proud moment. For a 16-year-old to have the maturity and the mindset to actually carry his team – in his job as setter, you know he’s the brains of the team – on an international platform is not the easiest. So hats off to him and the rest of the team for making it to the final.”

Shridhaan may get his irrepressible drive from Ryaan, but older brother Avidhaar has also been instrumental in fuelling his passion. They teamed up to great effect last year, when Avidhaar led the KZN U19 team to glory in Mpumalanga.

That victory was a triumph of the spirit as well as skill, coming just weeks after their home was destroyed by a tornado.

“I started playing volleyball in my first year of high school, the only reason was because of my father, because I had a name to live up to. So that’s why I opted to play the sport,” Shridhaan revealed.

“Of course, when I started I found some kind of competition from my brother, like after we play there’d often be an argument about who’s better. So I started training to become a setter and then eventually I got my colours in Grade 8, the first year that I played.

"From there things just went my way, you could say.”

The accomplished angler has already set his sights on the next big fish.

“My next target is getting the best setter (award) at the Region 5 Games next year in Mozambique, and for South Africa to take the gold,” he said.

The Lahldas' legacy is in safe hands.