Panjim: India’s growing franchise volleyball ecosystem and dedicated Under-21 tournaments are creating a clearer pathway for young players to progress from the grassroots to the professional game and eventually the senior national team, with the ultimate ambition of Olympic qualification.
Hyderabad Black Hawks U-21 captain Deepak, who led his side to the inaugural Guardians Trophy title, said his immediate focus was on continuing his development.
There is U-21 for the youth, there are nationals, there is the league and there is PBL,” he said. “Every team has an Under-21 player and every team has seen them. “We have to develop our game further. “Volleyball is getting a lot of attention in India. There are a lot of leagues and new platforms. “We get to learn a lot. There are senior players in our team, so we get experience from playing with them. We gain confidence. Yogesh Kumar, a Goa player and retained player of Mumbai Meteors in the Prime Volleyball League, believes the growth of youth tournaments could eventually strengthen India’s international prospects. Players can be picked from here.
I want to come to India and play for the senior team,” he said. Goa player Suraj said the expanding league structure was giving youngsters more opportunities to compete and learn. It is very good,” Suraj said. It was a very good opportunity for us,” he said.
