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.
Published : Sep 18, 2023 19:46 IST - 1 MIN READ
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.