Check Out The History Of Indian Volleyball Team

Volleyball has been widely played across India for over seven decades. While India has never participated in an Olympic Games for volleyball, the country has seen some success at the regional level. The sport's popularity declined due to internal conflicts within federations and the unfortunate death of Jimmy George in 1987. Additionally, the rise of the Indian cricket team overshadowed volleyball. In the 1990s, the Indian volleyball men's and women's teams achieved success at the South Asian Federation Games, winning three medals each. However, this did not lead to a revival, as the men's team underperformed at the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games. Although the men's Indian volleyball team did not qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, there is renewed interest in the sport, which could lead to a resurgence in the coming years. In this blog, we take a look at the history of the Indian volleyball team.

All You Need To Know About The History Of Indian Volleyball Team

1. The history of the Indian Volleyball Team

Volleyball has been widely played across India for over seven decades. Although India has never participated in an Olympic Games for volleyball, the country has seen some success at the regional level. The Indian volleyball team made an immediate impact on the global stage by winning the 1955 Asian Tournament in Tokyo. This was followed by another victory at the 1958 Asian Games, where volleyball was played for the first time. The Indian men's volleyball team, led by the veteran Gurudev Singh, clinched the bronze medal at that edition. India could not beat volleyball powerhouses Iran and Japan, although they managed to win a set against each other. The Indian volleyball team achieved better results four years later at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Legendary players Nripjit Singh Bedi and A Palaniswamy, both Arjuna Award winners, had moved up to the senior team, which was captained by TP Padmanabhan Nair, who was also part of the 1958 team.

Despite finishing strong with back-to-back wins against Indonesia and South Korea, India had to settle for silver due to Japan's unbeaten run. The following years saw mixed results for the Indian volleyball team, finishing fourth and fifth at the 1966 and 1974 Asian Games, respectively, and not participating in the 1970 edition. In 1978, they finished seventh, and at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, the team experienced an upturn, narrowly missing out on a medal and finishing fourth. However, the team didn't have to wait long for a medal. The Indian volleyball team has participated in 14 out of the 17 editions of the men's volleyball competition. Over the past decade, India achieved its best result in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, securing fifth position by defeating Qatar at Song Gymnasium in Incheon, South Korea.

2. Jimmy George - The best Indian volleyball player

In 1986, at the Asian Games in Seoul, India sent what could be considered their best volleyball team ever. The team was led by Cyril Valloor and included notable players such as GE Sridharan, K Udayakumar, Abdul Basith, Dalel Singh, and PV Ramana, who is the father of Indian badminton star PV Sindhu. All of them were recipients of the Arjuna Award, but the standout player and the team's linchpin was the talented Jimmy George, who was also an Arjuna awardee and a legend of Indian volleyball. Talking about the history of volleyball, Jimmy George, standing at 6'2 ", was widely regarded as the best Indian volleyball player. Jimmy was so strong when it came to volleyball rules and regulations. His graceful jumps and ability to hang in the air longer than most players allowed him to place powerful smashes with precision. His former teammate, Ramana Rao, described his jump as "the absolute jump," which was rare in India during the '70s and '80s. Besides his physical abilities, Jimmy George's mental strength set him apart as one of the world's top attackers.

3. Indian volleyball in recent years - the rise of volleyball league

In 2014, the Indian men's volleyball team achieved its highest ranking, 34th in the world. However, internal disputes within the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) led to a two-year ban from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) until 2018. This ban prevented Indian players from participating in international leagues, which impacted their exposure to different playing styles. As a result, the team finished 12th at the 2018 Asian Games. Despite this setback, the introduction of the Pro Volleyball League in 2019, featuring stars like Olympic gold medallist David Lee, has sparked renewed interest in the sport. Talking about Olympics news, the men's Indian volleyball team did not qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, but there is hope for a resurgence in the sport in the coming years.

Previously, Baseline Ventures, the promoters of PVL, organized a short-lived Pro Volleyball League under the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI). However, the VFI abruptly terminated the contract, leading to a legal battle. Baseline Ventures has since established independent communication channels with the international governing body, Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), and rebranded PVL, allowing them to host the Club World Championships in India last year. This sequence of events clearly demonstrates PVL's dominance in Indian volleyball. The players emerged as the biggest winners at the end of this power struggle between PVL and VFI. Previously caught in the crossfire, they were even pressured to choose between playing in the league and representing India. Thankfully, those days are over.

With elections stalled and an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Indian Olympic Committee at the helm, it became a lifeline for Indian volleyball. With 64 days left before the start of the much-awaited 2024 Paris Olympics, there couldn't be a better day to look at the Indian contingent. Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra will be one of the torch bearers of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The closing ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 11 at the Stade de France, which is the national stadium of the country. The ceremony will feature stunning performances by celebrities from the host country. However, the details of the performances will not be disclosed until the days leading up to the event.