For decades, it has been one step forward two steps back for Indian volleyball. On 6 December, the sport hopes to step into the spotlight once again as it debuts at the Men's Club World Championships as hosts. Ahmedabad Defenders, champions of the 2023 Prime Volleyball League, will represent India at the premier club world event, which will take place at Bengaluru's Koramangala Indoor Stadium from 6-10 December.
Launched in 1989, the men's club world championships in volleyball pre-dates the more popular Fifa Club World Cup that follows a similar format. Top teams from different confederations compete for the title. Sir Safety Susa Perugia (Italy), Sada Cruzeiro Volei and Minas Tênis Clube (Brazil), Suntory Sunbirds Club (Japan), Halkbank Spor Kulübü (Turkey) and India's Ahmedabad Defenders will participate in the 2023 Men's Club World Championships.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Italy (ranked No 3 in the world) Brazil (4), Japan (5) and Turkey (14) are all volleyball powerhouses. India, meanwhile, doesn't have a national federation and has slumped to 73 in the men's rankings, below sub-continent teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
"This is the greatest opportunity for us, for players as well as Indian volleyball," says Dakshinamoorthy Sundaresan, former player and coach of the Ahmedabad Defenders. "Our players have a lot of talent, finally they will get a world platform to display it."
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