The first National Volleyball Academy of India would be set up at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar and the first State Volleyball Academy of Odisha would be established in Kandhamal. This was announced by Odisha Volleyball Association (OVA) after its Annual General and Executive Council Meeting at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack today.

It was also decided in the meeting to conduct the Odisha State Volleyball Championship at Kandhamal in the month of November. The AGM was presided over by OVA working president Sanjay Kumar Das. OVA General Secretary Dr Gaganendu Dash and other office-bearers of the State body and its affiliated units were present in the meeting.

Elaborating on the proposed volleyball academies, OVA secretary Dr Das said, KIIT would provide infrastructure for both the State and National academies. “For the State Academy, 50 boys and 50 girls in the age group of 14-18 years would be spotted from the ensuing State championship. In case of National Academy, 30 men and 30 women would be selected from National championships,” revealed Dr Dash.

The OVA secretary was all praise for Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) president Kandhamal MP, Prof Achyuta Samanta for promoting the sport from grassroots to national level. “In his parliamentary constituency Kandhamal, Prof Samanta has arranged 5 floodlit volleyball courts in Tikabali, Raikia, Baliguda and at two locations in Phulbani,’’ added Dr Dash.

International volleyball referee Sudarshan Pattnaik was felicitated at the AGM on his retirement.