Coach removed, top volley players leave camp in protest

NEW DELHI: Indian volleyball has been jolted by a players’ revolt, as senior internationals Anand K and John Joseph walked out of the national camp in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar on Sunday. Their protest targets the abrupt removal of long-time foreign coach Dragan Mihailovic and alleged administrative lapses within the interim Volleyball Federation of India (VFI), led by Virender Kanwar.

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The camp, held at the SAI’s Gandhinagar regional centre, is part of India’s preparations for the upcoming AVC Men’s Cup (June 20–28, Ahmedabad), a key tournament featuring 12 top Asian teams. With the Asian Games also on the horizon, the timing of the disruption raises serious concerns.




Anand K criticised the decision to remove Mihailovic, linking it directly to declining preparation standards. “We had strong results under Mihailovic, including a runner-up finish at the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) tournament in Uzbekistan last year. His removal, without clarity, has hurt our preparations for the AVC Cup, AVC Men’s Championships and Asian Games,” he said. He added that the new coaching setup lacks the same global expertise, affecting player confidence and performance readiness.

Mihailovic, who coached India for three years, was credited with modernising training methods and improving results, including strong showings at international events. Players believe his exit disrupts continuity at a crucial phase.

Sources within the interim VFI suggest deeper governance issues. An official citing anonymity indicated that Mihailovic’s alignment with a reform-oriented “steering committee” backed by the FIVB created friction. The committee, headed by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) EC member Rohit Rajpal, has been pushing structural changes. However, the VFI’s refusal to accept FIVB’s provisional recognition for eight months and engage with the committee has led to repeated standoffs.

Rajpal expressed concern over the fallout. “Players are national assets – there can be no compromise on their treatment. This is a crucial year with the AVC Cup and Asian Games ahead,” he said, underlining the stakes involved. “AVC Cup is a world-ranking tournament. And if India does well here, the country has a chance to qualify for the World Cup scheduled later this year.,” he added.

The protest also highlighted a broader pattern. Players like Jerome Vinith and Ashwal Rai were earlier excluded after seeking international exposure, signalling friction between athletes and administrators. With major tournaments approaching, the conflict between players, coaching staff, and administrators threatens to derail the sport’s recent progress.
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