India’s U19 Men’s Volleyball team is all set to participate in the CAVA U19 Men Volleyball Championship 2025, scheduled to be held from 10th to 16th June in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
With a promising squad and strong coaching leadership, the Indian team enters the continental stage aiming to challenge the region’s best and emerge victorious.
High Stakes, Fierce Rivals
The Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Championship is one of the most competitive youth volleyball events in the region, featuring strong contenders like Iran, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
For India, this competition will serve as a critical testing ground to evaluate the upcoming talent pool and prepare athletes for future continental and world-level events.
The Indian team will kick off its campaign against volleyball powerhouse Iran on 10th June, followed by matches against Kyrgyzstan (11th June), Uzbekistan 1 (12th June), and Uzbekistan 2 (14th June). The medal matches are scheduled for 16th June.
India’s Fixtures at CAVA U19 2025:
- 10th June: vs Iran 🇮🇷
- 11th June: vs Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
- 12th June: vs Uzbekistan 1 🇺🇿
- 14th June: vs Uzbekistan 2 🇺🇿
- 16th June: Medal matches
Two athletes from SAI NCOE Trivandrum have earned their spots on the national squad — Mahendra Dhurwe, a powerful attacker from Chhattisgarh, and Kunal Das, a skillful setter from West Bengal. Both players have shown consistent performances at the junior level and are now ready to represent the nation on an international platform.
Their selection is a testament to the growing strength of India’s national centers of excellence and the increasing depth of talent in the grassroots ecosystem.
A Moment of Pride for Kashmir
Among the notable selections is Wani Mahir from Jammu & Kashmir, who joins the national camp as a blocker. His inclusion has been celebrated widely, with many hailing it as another milestone for the sporting development of Kashmir. Youth from the valley are increasingly making a mark in national and international competitions, and Mahir’s selection reflects that encouraging trend.
India Skips U16 CAVA Championship
Interestingly, India has opted out of participating in the CAVA U16 Championship, which will also be held in Tashkent alongside the U19 edition. The decision indicates a sharper focus on the U19 age group this season, with hopes pinned on gaining a podium finish and preparing these players for senior-level integration in the coming years.
Coaching Staff Led by Dragan Mihailovic
The Indian U19 squad will be guided by Dragan Mihailovic, the highly respected Serbian coach who also heads the Senior Men’s National Team. Mihailovic will oversee India’s participation across U16, U19, and Senior men’s competitions in the CAVA Men’s Nations League setup.
Known for his structured gameplay philosophy, tactical discipline, and youth development skills, Mihailovic’s presence is expected to bring much-needed international exposure and professionalism to the junior side.
Mission Uzbekistan: Eye on the Podium
India’s goal is clear — to beat regional rivals like Iran and Uzbekistan and win the championship. With talented players across all positions — attackers, blockers, setters, universals, and liberos — this is one of the most balanced squads India has fielded in recent years.
The emphasis this year is not just on participation, but on performance and progress. This tournament could be a stepping stone for these youngsters to climb the ladder toward the senior national team.
Full Squad – India U19 Men’s Volleyball Team (CAVA 2025)
The Indian squad includes Rajat Singh, Mahendra Dhurwe, Ashish Kumar, Sunil Muwal, Nandamudi Mourya, Vignesh Shanmugan, Adarsh Rai, Aadhi Krishna Nediyara, Kunal Das, Akhilan Kamaraj, Alok Manoj Todkar, and Nikhil Jat.
With an exciting mix of flair, discipline, and hunger, India’s U19 volleyball team carries the hopes of a nation into Tashkent. As the championship begins, Indian fans will be watching closely, hoping for a podium finish and a glimpse of the country’s volleyball future.
