Odisha para volleyball squad departs for Erode championship matches
Fourteen members of the Odisha men’s para volleyball squad left Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to compete in the 3rd Federation Cup Para Volleyball Championship 2026. Scheduled in Erode, Tamil Nadu, the tournament will run from September 25 to September 27.
Earning their spot after securing fifth place nationally last year, players prepared rigorously for this event. State officials and the Para Sports Association of Odisha (PASO) organized an intensive 15-day camp at Kalinga Stadium. Selectors finalized the 14-member roster from a pool of 18 athletes who participated in these demanding practice sessions. Odisha continues to invest heavily in specialized sports infrastructure, giving para-athletes better opportunities to excel on national platforms and refine their competitive skills.
Leadership optimism and squad details
PASO president Kamalakanta Rath expressed high hopes during Wednesday’s departure ceremony. He praised the dedication of both players and coaching staff while predicting strong results for the state at the upcoming championship.
Bheshaj Naik, Rudra Narayan Sahu, Tapan Behera, Siddhant Sahu, Badal Pradhan, Rashmi Ranjan Mallik, Dibya Ranjan Sahu, Paresh Kumar Mahato, Rohit Naik, Nihar Nayak, Pradeep Kumar Mansingh, Shubhankar Behera, Bikash Mahanandia, and Chandan Kumar Bhoi will represent the state on the court. Jitendra Kumar Behera, Ratnakar Patra, and Sukumar Sahu are traveling alongside them as the official coaches to guide the team through the tournament.
