INDIA MISSING FROM THE 2025 WORLD VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Volleyball, a sport born in the dusty old gymnasiums of Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1895, has evolved into one of the world’s most popular sports. Today, the 2025 Volleyball World Championships are fast approaching, but India finds itself on the sidelines as the world prepares for the tournament.
Let’s explore why.
The 2025 Volleyball World Championships will be a landmark event, featuring 32 teams per gender—an expansion from the previous 24 teams.
The men will compete in the Philippines, while the women will play in Thailand.
For the first time, 43 countries will be represented, with teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, NORCECA, and South America all vying for the title.
The Men’s World Championship in Manila will run from September 12–28, 2025, while the Women’s tournament will take place from August 22 to September 7, 2025.
While the world buzzes with excitement for the 2025 tournaments, India will not be among the contenders.
The Indian Men’s Senior Volleyball team is currently ranked 70th in the world, below nations like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
On the women’s side, India sits at 59th. So, what happened?
India’s volleyball history is rich in pride and accomplishment. The country’s first major success came in 1955 when India defeated Japan to win the first-ever Asian Volleyball Tournament.
A bronze medal at the 1958 Asian Games was followed by a silver medal in 1962—India’s highest achievement at the Asian Games.
Till the 1986 Asian Games, India’s national team was among Asia’s best. Led by Cyril Valloor, the team included PV Ramana, father of star shuttler PV Sindhu, and secured a bronze medal.
But since then, India has failed to win medals at the Asian Games.
Sube Singh, the former captain standing at a staggering 6 feet 9 inches, along with his energetic teammates—Rampal Singh, Dinesh Singh, and Sanjay Kumar—helped the team win numerous titles from 2002 to 2014 and raised their ranking to an all-time high of 34.
Sube Singh’s legacy remains an enduring symbol of the heights that can be achieved through teamwork, perseverance, and exemplary leadership. His contribution to the sport continues to inspire and motivate upcoming players to strive for excellence.
But just as it seemed that the sport was picking up again, an internal dispute in the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) led to a two-year ban from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) until 2018.
This setback further stunted India’s growth in the sport.
So, where do we go from here?
Enter the Prime Volleyball League (PVL)—an initiative by Baseline Ventures.
The 2025 season promises to be bigger than ever, with 10 teams expected to compete. While the national teams struggle, the league has emerged as a beacon of hope.
By providing a professional platform for Indian players, the PVL is reviving the sport and could be the key to India’s resurgence in global volleyball.
The PVL is addressing key challenges— visibility, talent development, and exposure—bringing volleyball to new heights in India.
The PVL has already begun to reshape the landscape, offering structure and a platform for players to sharpen their skills and gain international exposure.
With a growing fan base and increasing media coverage, the league is starting to build momentum, and there’s talk of women’s volleyball being added soon.
The emergence of the Prime Volleyball League has sparked a transformative phase in Indian volleyball, but the real challenge lies in ensuring that this momentum translates to sustained success on the world stage.
As India aims for its first-ever appearance at the Olympics, it’s crucial for us to support our volleyball players—whether through watching their matches, following the PVL, or simply advocating for the sport. By doing so, we can help build a brighter future for Indian volleyball.
If you believe in Indian volleyball and want to see our athletes shine on the global stage, drop a comment below and show your support!
