Despite missing the last season due to injury, Guru, who was the MVP and best attacker in the second season, was retained by the Hyderabad Black Hawks \u2014 a gesture that means a lot to the Tamil Nadu player. As he prepares to return, he\u2019s determined to give it his all and leave no stone unturned every time he steps onto the court in the Black Hawks jersey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m really glad they decided to retain me. Honestly, I was hoping for it because I want to perform for the team \u2014 something I couldn\u2019t do last season,\u201d Guru said. \u201cThis time, we\u2019re aiming for the trophy. We want to prove ourselves, and more importantly, I want to prove myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Injuries are part of an athlete\u2019s journey, but what hurt the most wasn\u2019t just the injury \u2014 it was not being able to play most matches or support my team,\u201d Guru said. \u201cThat said, I always had the grit and determination to come back stronger after recovery.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about his injury, Guru shared, \u201cI suffered an ACL tear along with a horizontal meniscus tear in my 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 \u2014 and that made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Guru shared how his father played a crucial role in keeping his spirits high during the rehab phase, constantly motivating him to stay positive and focused on his recovery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cObviously, I was feeling low \u2014 mentally, it was a tough and traumatic phase. But as an athlete, you have to stay strong and maintain a positive mindset,\u201d Guru said. \u201cWhat\u2019s 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 \u2014 and above all, my father, who kept me motivated throughout.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The youngster lavished praise on PVL for helping get more talent from the grassroots. \u201cThe Indian team performed quite well in the last CAVA tournament,\u201d he said. \u201cWith 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cObviously, I was feeling low \u2014 mentally, it was a tough and traumatic phase. But as an athlete, you have to stay strong and maintain a positive mindset,\u201d Guru said. \u201cWhat\u2019s 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 \u2014 and above all, my father, who kept me motivated throughout.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Prime Volleyball League (PVL) is India's first professional volleyball league with 10 teams. The league successfully completed Seasons 1, 2 & 3, and Season 4 is scheduled for October 2025. Prime Volleyball League works closely with the global body of Volleyball (F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Volley Ball, FIVB). The league has players from India and worldwide, where the international players come through FIVB's international transfer procedure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n