Varanasi is set to host a major sporting spectacle as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship. The grand event kicks off at the Sampurnanand Sports Stadium in Sigra on Sunday, marking a significant moment for sports in the historic city.
High-Profile Inauguration and Tournament Details
While the Prime Minister will join the ceremony via video link, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be physically present at the stadium to boost the morale of the athletes. He will be accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and other dignitaries. Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari highlighted that this is the first time Varanasi is hosting a national-level volleyball championship of this scale.
The championship will see intense competition with a whopping 78 teams from across India participating. The action-packed schedule is spread over eight days, featuring a total of 125 matches. The league rounds will run until January 7, with approximately 30 matches played each day during this phase.
Knockout Stages and International Oversight
The tournament will progress to the knockout stages with pre-quarter finals on January 8, followed by quarter finals on January 9. The semi-finals and final matches, along with the closing ceremony, are scheduled for January 10 and 11.
Adding an international dimension to the event, observers from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) have arrived from Switzerland to oversee the proceedings. To ensure world-class playing conditions, the organizers have installed special Teraflex courts, which were brought in from Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. These courts have been set up on two indoor and two outdoor courts at the venue.
This championship not only promises to showcase top-tier volleyball talent from the nation but also positions Varanasi as a burgeoning hub for premier sporting events, receiving support from the highest levels of government.
