Bhubaneswar: Shri Sachin R Jadhav, Secretary, Sports & Youth Services chaired a high-profile meeting to discuss opportunities for the development of volleyball in Odisha. The meet was successfully held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The deliberations brought together the Secretary of the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Sri Sachin R. Jadhav, the President of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), Mr. Fabio Azevedo, and Olympic gold medalist Mr. Abhinav Bindra.
The discussion centred on strategies for strengthening the sport of volleyball at the grassroots level in the state and enhancing global sports partnerships. The meeting is seen as a major step in the state’s continued effort to establish itself as a prominent national and international sports hub.
The engagement with the FIVB President and the presence of a global sporting icon like Mr. Bindra underscore Odisha’s commitment to leveraging international expertise and collaboration to nurture local talent and improve sporting infrastructure.
The focus of the meeting was to create structured pathways for young athletes and integrate the state into the global volleyball ecosystem.
This high-level dialogue follows recent initiatives, including the announcement of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour being hosted in Odisha for three consecutive years from 2026, in partnership with local institutions.
These efforts signal a clear vision to empower the youth, especially women, through volleyball and use sport as a catalyst for social transformation.
The participants collectively reaffirmed their commitment to the holistic growth of volleyball, aiming to create a thriving and inclusive sporting culture in Odisha.