Absence of Telangana players in India volleyball team raises concerns
The absence of Telangana players in India’s squad for the 2026 AVC Volleyball Cup has raised concerns over the state's decline in volleyball. Former officials also highlighted factionalism at the national level and questioned the team’s preparations for the tournament
Hyderabad: First, the then united Andhra Pradesh and later Telangana continue to suffer in most team sports for different reasons.
And when the Indian volleyball team for the 2026 AVC Volleyball Cup for Men, to be held from June 20 to 28 in Ahmedabad, does not even have a single player from Telangana, it is yet another grim reminder that all is not well with a sport in which the then united Andhra Pradesh was a force to reckon with, having produced some of the best players who went on to represent the country.
Interestingly, the scenario does not appear to be very encouraging at the national level either.
Former international volleyball player GV Madhav said, “Factionalism has raised its ugly head at the national level. In fact, elections were held under the aegis of the FIVB-appointed steering committee and temporary recognition was granted. Following the temporary recognition, the VFI conducted the Senior Nationals at Varanasi and the selected players were called for trials in Ahmedabad.”
“Some senior players like Jerome Vinith and Ashwal Rai, who were busy playing in Mongolia, were ignored. The selection process was completed and the coaching camp began under the guidance of Dronacharya G E Sreedharan. Then, two players, John Joseph and Anand, walked out of the camp citing archaic training methods and lack of facilities,” Madhav explained.
“This and the choice of G E Sreedharan as coach of the Indian team despite the presence of foreign expert Serbian Dragan Mihailovic was probably the last straw. Immediately, the FIVB revoked the provisional recognition of the VFI led by Virendra Kanwar, leading to the formation of a steering committee led by former international tennis player Rohit Rajpal of the IOA. They acted swiftly, conducted retrials from May 29 to 31, selected the players and the camp began in right earnest under the charge of Dragan Mihailovic,” Madhav pointed out.
“We should have begun preparations in right earnest. There were no exposure trips and no leading teams were invited to benefit our players. Ideally, we could have invited teams like Qatar and Korea and played some practice matches. We have still not finalised our final 12 for the AVC Cup. Being hosts, we are expected to prepare well, take corrective measures and put our best foot forward,” Madhav explained.
“On a brighter note back home in Telangana, it is good to know that 16 boys from the SAI Hostel recently left for Osaka (Japan) for a two-week exposure trip, which is unprecedented,” said Madhav.
