FIVB To Host ‘Beach Pro Tour’ in Odisha For Three Years From 2026
Azevedo said Odisha’s sporting ecosystem, coupled with the extensive infrastructure at KIIT and KISS, made the state an ideal destination for hosting global volleyball events. “This initiative is designed to empower women and strengthen volleyball at the grassroots level
Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to Indian volleyball, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) on Saturday announced that the prestigious FIVB Beach Pro Tour will be hosted in Odisha for three consecutive years—2026, 2027 and 2028—in partnership with KIIT and KISS, two major universities in Odisha.
The announcement was made by FIVB president Fabio Azevedo on the sidelines of the ‘Volleyball Mahakumbh’, a four-day mega event held at the KIIT and KISS campuses from December 11 to 14. The event, inaugurated in the presence of nearly 40,000 students, was organised jointly by KIIT–KISS and FIVB with a focus on women’s empowerment and grassroots development of volleyball under the Kanya Kiran Initiative.
Addressing a press conference here, Azevedo said Odisha’s sporting ecosystem, coupled with the extensive infrastructure at KIIT and KISS, made the state an ideal destination for hosting global volleyball events. “This initiative is designed to empower women and strengthen volleyball at the grassroots level,” he said.
As part of the programme, specialised workshops for women volleyball coaches from Odisha, across India and abroad were conducted over multiple days. More than 500 participants from Odisha and over 200 international and national coaches, players and experts took part. The trained coaches are expected to reach and mentor over 50,000 volleyball players in their respective regions.
The training sessions were led by internationally acclaimed coaches John Kessel and Jana Kulan, featuring advanced skill development, on-court demonstrations, coach education modules and community participation programmes across four indoor and over 40 outdoor courts.
KIIT and KISS Founder Dr Achyuta Samanta said the collaboration with FIVB has brought world-class volleyball expertise to Odisha. “Through these initiatives, thousands of girls and women will get opportunities to experience the transformative power of sports,” he said.
The event also featured panel discussions on sports in education, social transformation, youth engagement and gender equality, with speakers including Fabio Azevedo, Dr. Samanta, Abhinav Bindra, Abhijit B, John Kessel and Jana Kulan.
During the programme, an MoU was signed between FIVB, KIIT and KISS, and the FIVB–KIIT–KISS Centre of Excellence was formally inaugurated, alongside the launch of a new Sports Zone on campus.