16 Teams Featuring International Players Participating
Organized by Chhattisgarh Volleyball Association from 3-8 February in Raipur
Chief Minister Shri Sai watched the opening match between Tamil Nadu and Services till the end, left the indoor stadium only after the keenly contested match concluded
Raipur. February 3, 2026. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today inaugurated the 37th Federation Cup Volleyball Championship at Sardar Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur. This event is being organized by the Chhattisgarh State Volleyball Association from February 3 to February 8. A total of 16 teams are participating in the championship, including many international players who have played for India. Teams from many states, including Railways, Services, and Indian Universities, are participating. 10 teams are participating in the men’s category and 6 teams in the women’s category.
After inaugurating the Federation Cup, Chief Minister Shri Sai stayed at the indoor stadium and watched the opening match between Tamil Nadu and Services till the end. He left the stadium only after the keenly contested match concluded. MLA Shri Sunil Soni also attended the inauguration ceremony.
Inaugurating the 37th Federation Cup Volleyball Championship, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said, “I welcome the players from all over the country to the land of Chhattisgarh. Volleyball teaches us teamwork, cooperation, and coordination. The players from Chhattisgarh have brought significant recognition to the state in this sport. We are continuously emphasizing the necessary infrastructure and training to ensure that Chhattisgarh’s players can showcase their talent and skills to their fullest potential on national and international platforms.”
Chief Minister Shri Sai said, “We have restarted the State Sports Award, which had been discontinued for many years, to encourage players. The state government will provide a promotion amount of Rs 21 lakh for the participation of a state player in the Olympic Games. Furthermore, Rs 3 crore will be given for winning a gold medal, Rs 2 crore for a silver medal, and Rs 1 crore for a bronze medal. Shri Sai added, “Chhattisgarh’s new identity is now being recognized nationally and internationally through sports. For the past two years, Bastar Olympics have been organized in the state. In the first year, 1,65,000 people participated, and in the second year, about 4,00,000 people participated.”
In his welcome speech, the President of the Chhattisgarh Volleyball Association, Shri Mahesh Gagra, provided information about the outline and programs of the Federation Cup. The President of Raipur District Panchayat Shri Naveen Agarwal, Secretary of Chhattisgarh Olympic Association Shri Vikram Sisodia, General Secretary of Volleyball Federation of India Shri Ramanand Chaudhary, President of Madhya Pradesh Volleyball Association Shri Rudrapratap Singh, Secretary of Chhattisgarh Volleyball Association Shri Hem Prakash Nayak, Chairman of Raipur Municipal Corporation Shri Suryakant Rathore, Shri Rahul Kaushik, and Shri Vinod Nair, along with officials and members of various volleyball associations, players, and sports enthusiasts, were present in large numbers during the inauguration of the Federation Cup.
Teams from these states are participating
In the 37th Federation Cup Volleyball Championship being held in Raipur, teams from Railways, Services, Indian Universities, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh are participating in the men’s category. In the women’s category, teams from Railways, Indian Universities, Kerala, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh are participating. Many of these teams include players who have represented India at the international level.