Asian Games: India looking to end volleyball medal drought

The Indian men’s volleyball team last won a medal at the Asian Games 37 years ago, while the women have participated in just four editions of the quadrennial event.

Key player: Guru Prasanth, the Emerging Player of PVL 1 and Most Valuable Player of PVL 2, enhances India’s medal prospects at the Asiad. | Photo Credit: PVL

India’s journey in Asian Games volleyball has seen its share of highs and lows over the decades. The nation’s first taste of success came in 1958, when the men’s team secured a historic bronze medal. This achievement was followed by a silver in 1962, with their only loss coming at the hands of Japan, which claimed gold.

However, the path to glory became increasingly challenging, and it took more than two decades until India could add another medal to its tally — a bronze in 1986. It has been 37 years since India last clinched a medal in volleyball at the Asian Games. The women’s team, on the other hand, has participated in only four Asian Games to date.

The recent editions of the Asian Games have not been kind to India’s volleyball teams. In the last iteration, the men’s team struggled, finishing 12th out of 20 countries after a 1-3 loss to Japan in the round of 16. The women’s team endured similar hardships, securing the 10th spot out of 11 countries with just one win in seven matches.

The introduction of leagues like the Pro Volleyball League in 2019 and the Prime Volleyball League (PVL) in 2022 has raised expectations. Notably, the inclusion of Guru Prasanth, the Emerging Player of PVL 1 and Most Valuable Player of PVL 2, could boost India’s prospects in the upcoming Asian Games.

Japan, China, South Korea, and Iran will be the favourites to clinch the podium places in both men’s and women’s competitions.

SCHEDULE

2022 Asian Games Men’s Volleyball Schedule

19th September 2023, Tuesday

8:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST - Preliminary Round

India vs Cambodia - Pool C - 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM IST

20th September 2023, Wednesday

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST - Preliminary Round

India vs South Korea- Pool C - 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM IST

21st September 2023, Thursday

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST - Preliminary Round

22nd September 2023, Friday

8:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST - Cross-match for 1st-6th and 7th-12th

24th September 2023, Sunday

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST - Rankings for 1st-6th and 7th-12th

25th September 2023, Monday

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST - Rankings for 1st-4th, 7th-10th and Final Rankings 11th-12th

26th September 2023, Tuesday

8:00 AM to 7:30 PM IST - Final Rankings 1st to 10th

2022 Asian Games Women’s Volleyball Schedule

30th September 2023, Saturday

8:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST - Preliminary Round

India vs North Korea - Pool A - 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM IST

1st October 2023, Sunday

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST - Preliminary Round

India vs China - Pool A - 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM IST

2nd October 2023, Monday

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST - Preliminary Round

4th October 2023, Wednesday

8:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST - Classification 1st-8th, 9th-13th

5th October 2023, Thursday

8:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST - Classification 1st-8th, 9th-13th

6th October 2023, Friday

8:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST - Semifinals 1st-8th, 9th-13th

7th October 2023, Saturday

8:00 AM to 7:30 PM IST - Final Rankings 1st-12th

SQUADS

India Volleyball Squad:

Men’s team:

Amit, Vinit Kumar, Shameemudheen Ammarambath, Muthusamy Appavu, Hari Prasad Bevinakuppe Suresha, Rohit Kumar, Manoj Lakshmipuram Manjunatha, Ukkrapandian Mohan, Ashwal Rai, Santhosh Sahaya Anthoni Raj, Guru Prasanth Subramanian Venkatasubbu, Erin Varghese

Women’s team:

Nirmal, Soorya, Minimol Abraham, Jincy Johnson, Anusree Kambrath Poyilil, Aswani Kandoth, Jini Kovat Shaji, Saranya Narikunnil Salikumar, Shilpa Rajendran Nair Sindhu, Aswathi Raveendran, Shaalini Saravanan, Suji Vijayan