by Ashis Sinha
Indian volleyball is making significant strides, with the global authorities, even from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) & eminent foreign coaches and experts expressing high hopes for the sport’s future ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. As a new wave of world-class talents emerges across the country, there is growing optimism that India’s volleyball team will be a formidable contender on the international stage.
“Indian volleyball has an ocean of world-class potential,” said Dr. Jaideep Sarkar, the Chief Coach of the Indian Men’s Volleyball Team, which gave a stellar performance in the previous year’s Hangzhou Asian Games 2022-23 making a record of the steepest rise in the history of Indian Volleyball at the highest level of it’s international participation, as well as defeating back to back the reigning Silver & Bronze medalists the mighty South Korea and the Chinese Taipei for the first time in Asian Games respectively.
Dr. Jaideep Sarkar, who is also an Olympic educator, an advocate of Olympism, and a representative of the apex International Olympic Community through the International Pierre De Coubertin Committee (CIPC), has been closely involved in the sport’s development in India and holds the position of the Secretary General of the Mongia National Volleyball Academy in Jharkhand.
Reflecting on the progress Indian volleyball has made, Sarkar emphasized, “The country has made significant strides in recent years, and we are absolutely committed to performing much better in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games. The athletes are dedicated, committed, and the system is moving forward—there’s no doubt India will continue to rise stronger.”
Despite facing challenges such as the lockhorned situation in the National Federation, Indian volleyball has steadily grown in recent years. New talents are emerging from grassroots and school programs all over India, including from silent areas like Assam (where Brahmaputra Volleyball League is playing a crucial role through its dynamic leader, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, ex-captain of the Indian team) and professional leagues like PVL and other elite events in South and North India, contributing to the sport’s rapid development.
“The momentum we’ve built cannot be stopped,” added Sarkar. “We have set our sights on improving our rankings, and with the current development programs in place, India is well on its way to competing at a world-class level.”
The 2026 Asian Games, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will be a pivotal moment for Indian volleyball. The competition will offer a chance to test the country’s mettle against Asia’s top teams like Japan, Iran, China, South Korea, etc.
As India’s volleyball scene continues to evolve, experts and fans alike are eagerly anticipating a more competitive and successful future for the sport. With renewed focus and a growing pool of talent, Indian volleyball is poised for an exciting journey on the world stage. “It is well expected that once a full fledged National Volleyball Federation comes into existence, the rest of the issues to churn the scenario will be streamlined. At this juncture, it’s extremely important to continue the mission of Volleyball development first and awake the sleeping giant India not the individualistic mindset,” pointed Dr. Jaideep Sarkar with optimism in his eyes.
