The Central Asian Volleyball Championship, set to take place at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad, has taken a new turn as the Indian Volleyball team has officially confirmed its withdrawal from the tournament following the recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
The announcement was made by the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) on Sunday, citing the deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan as the reason.
Reason for Withdrawal
One of the representatives of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) made a statement on Sunday regarding India’s decision to cancel its participation in the forthcoming Central Asian Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place from May 28 to June 4.
He further confirmed that the Indian team had initially planned to send a total of 30 members, comprising 22 players and 8 support staff.
India’s move came into action after the recent terror attack that happened in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Amid the terror attack, several other tensions have risen, which in the future might heavily affect sports and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Talking at the press conference, Ahad said, “The Indian Volleyball officials have informed the regional body that their government has cancelled the NOC issued to them for the tournament after the incident in Pahalgam.”
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He further expressed disappointment with the decision taken by the Indian Volleyball team. He stated, “It is disappointing to know India has withdrawn from the championship and they will be replaced either by Afghanistan or Sri Lanka.”
Following the withdrawal of the Indian Volleyball team from the Central Asian Volleyball Championship, only four teams have confirmed their participation for the championship, which is set to take place under the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
The news gained attention when one of India’s popular sports pages covered the tournament update. On their X handle, the page posted, “#news The Indian volleyball team 🏐 has officially pulled out of the Central Asian Volleyball Championship set to start on May 28 in Islamabad. 🇵🇰
#news l The Indian volleyball team 🏐 has officially pulled out of the Central Asian Volleyball Championship set to start on May 28 in Islamabad. 🇵🇰#volleyball pic.twitter.com/YpzgRgODL4
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) April 27, 2025
#volleyball.”
What’s Next in the Tournament?
As tension grows between the two rival countries, India and Pakistan, it remains uncertain whether the Central Asian Volleyball Championship will be held successfully. After the terror attack in Pahalgam, it has created tensions among the people living in both countries, as they have somehow said that the war might start.
Despite the ongoing situation, the tournament will feature teams from Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Similarly, when India announced the cancellation of their tour to Pakistan, fans around the world did not seem particularly interested, as the Indian Volleyball team has always been capable of attracting huge audiences and producing quality games.
The team also did not participate in the previous edition of the Central Asian Volleyball Championship, as the participating teams were Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. However, in 2024, the host nation, Pakistan, won the title, defeating Turkmenistan.
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