Top 10 Volleyball Players in India: A List of the Elite Athletes

Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan in Massachusetts, USA. Before gaining insights about legendary Volleyball players of India, let’s take a deeper look into the history of the sport in the country.

The British introduced volleyball to India for the first time in the early 20th century. It was seen as a recreational activity for British officers and soldiers stationed in India. However, the Indians themselves soon began to take interest in the game

As the popularity of volleyball grew, the first Indian volleyball team was formed in the year 1951 and they participated in the first Asian Games held in New Delhi, India. Despite not having much success in that tournament, the Indian team continued to train and compete in various national and international competitions.

Over the next few decades, Volleyball players in india began to make a name for themselves on the international stage. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Indian men’s team became a force to be reckoned with, winning several medals at the Asian Games and other competitions.

Despite the challenges, Indian volleyball players and teams have shown remarkable success on the international stage, with several players being recognized as some of the best in the world

List of Top 10 Volleyball players in India

[at the end we have added list of current best volleyball players in India]

Jimmy George

Born on – 5 March 1955, Peravoor, Kannur district, kerala

Died– November 30, 1987 [aged 32]

Jimmy George, widely regarded as one of the greatest volleyball players who ever played for India, was the first Indian to turn professional and play club volleyball in Italy.

He was an excellent swimmer and chess player, but volleyball was his true passion. During his school and college years, he excelled in the sport and was instrumental in leading Kerala University to four consecutive All India Inter-University Championship titles between 1973 and 1976.

Jimmy George was also a member of the Indian national volleyball team at the 1974, 1978 and 1986 Asian Games and in 1986 when India won bronze medal the Asian games.

Achievements of Jimmy George-

• Four consecutive All India Inter-University Championship titles between 1973-1976
• Bronze medal win at the 1986 Asian Games in [Seoul]
• First Volleyball player in India to player for Palla Volo Treviso [ a volleyball team in Italy]
• G.V. Raja Award in 1975 and won the Manorama Award,

These achievements solidified his position among the elite volleyball players in India.

Unfortunately, his flourishing career was cut short when he died in a car accident in Italy in 1987, at the age of 32.

Also read: 10 Tallest Indian Cricketers [Updated]

Cyril Vellore

Born- December 1, 1961 (age 61)

Cyril Vellore is a former India men’s national volleyball team player from Kerala. He represented the country in several competitions, including the 1986 Seoul Asian Games where he captained the Indian team that won the bronze medal. This was the best volleyball team sent by India to an Asian games.

He was conferred the Arjuna Award for his contribution to the Indian volleyball. He is an alumnus of Calicut University. Cyril Vellore was a great all-rounder and a specialist in spiking and blocking.

He was also a member of the Indian team that won gold at the 2006 South Asian Games. He was also a member of the Indian team that won bronze at the 1980 Asian Cup and silver at the 1983 Asian Games. Cyril and jimmy were great companion on the field.

Achievements of Cyril Vellore–

• Arjuna awards
• Captained Indian volleyball team
• Bronze medal at 1986 asian games
• member of the Indian team that won gold at the 2006 South Asian Games
• member of the Indian team that won bronze at the 1980 Asian Cup and silver at the 1983 Asian Games

These achievements make him one of the best volleyball players in India to ever play for the country.

Also read: Top 10 Women Boxers in the World

A. Palanisamy

Born–1932

Died-12 November 2007

A. Palanisamy was amongs best volleyball players in india. A. Palanisamy was from Tamil Nadu, India. In the early 1960s, he represented the country at the Asian Games. He was from Kallampatti, near Melur, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.

He was dubbed the “Black Panther” due to his ferocious attacks during the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. In 1962, he was named Asia’s best player. He was a regular member of the Indian Railways team in the Nationals and his team went on to win the title in 1959 in Jamshedpur. He was the first volleyball player to receive the Arjuna Award in 1961. He was the coach for the Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu before retiring in 1998. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 74.

Achievements of A. Palanisamy:

• Won silver in the Asian Games at Jakarta in 1962
• Was named as Asia No. 1
• Won first Arjuna Award in volleyball
• Winning the National tournament in 1959 in Jamshedpur

Ps: Image of A palanisamy is not available on the internet

Also read: Top 10 Best Chefs in India

Balwant Singh Sagwal

Born- 1945

Died- 14 November 2010

Balwant Singh Sagwal also known as Ballu, was a famous member of the Indian men’s national volleyball team . This player, who stood 6 feet 6 inches tall, was instrumental in Punjab’s success on the national stage between the mid-1960s and the early 1970s.

He was referred to as a world-class attacker. In 1972, Sagwal received the Arjuna Award.

He joined the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jalandhar, Punjab, which was known at the time for producing top volleyball players. Sagwal won his first National Volleyball Championship in 1965, and he continued to compete in the Nationals until 1988. He represented India in the Asian Games in 1970, 1974, and 1978.

Between 1968 and 1981, Punjab won ten national championships, thanks largely to Sagwal’s performance. From 1966 to 1990, he represented the Punjab Police and the BSF in the All India Police Games.

Achievements of Balwant Singh Sagwal

• Arjuna award winner
• Ten times National champion
• Represented in India in many Asian games.
• Was a part of BSF

Also read: Cricket 101: Interesting Facts About Cricket

Abdul Basith

Born- 1959

Died- 1991

Abdul Basith captained India’s men’s national volleyball team. He was born in 1959 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and was known for his humility, gentlemanly demeanour, fair play, and tall stature.

He was a member of the team that won the bronze medal at the Seoul Asian Games in 1986, defeating Japan. In 1989, he received the Arjuna Award for his contributions to sports.

He is remembered fondly as a great leader and an inspiring figure in the Indian volleyball community.

Abdul Basith memorial volleyball tournament is organized in hyderabad in the memory one of legendary volleyball players in india ABDUL BASITH.

Also read: Top 10 Indian Chess Players [2023]

Nirmal Kaur Saini

Born-8 October 1938

Died- 13 June 2021

Nirmal Kaur Saini was a volleyball player from India and the captain of the India women’s national volleyball team. She was the mother of Jeev Milkha Singh and the wife of athlete Milkha Singh.

At the Asian Games in Seoul in 1986, she is credited for beating Japan and guiding India to a bronze medal. Additionally, she was a member of the 1985 South Asian Games gold-medal winning team. In 2021, the “Lifetime Achievement Award” was posthumously given to her.She had been the Director of Sports for Women at the State Department.

Undoubtebly she is one amongst the best volleyball players in India

Achievements of Nirmal Kaur Saini

• Arjuna award
• Lifetime achievement award
• Director of Sports for Women at the State Department.

Karthik Madhu

Karthik Madhu is a 31-year-old volleyball player from Karnataka. He is the captain of Kochi Blue Spikers in the Prime Volleyball League (PVL).

He began playing volleyball at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and made his first junior Nationals for Karnataka in 2009. He was also a guest player for BSNL and made his first appearance in the Senior Nationals in 2011.

He played for India for the first time at the South Asian Games 2016, when India won the gold. He also won gold in the 2015 Fed Cup for Karnataka which was his first at the senior level. He is currently working as an assistant in the Postal Department in Bengaluru.

Achievements of Karthik Madhu

• Captain of Kochi blue spikers
• appreance in junior as well as senior level national tournaments
• Gold medal in south Asian games 2016
• Gold medal in 2015 Fed Cup for Karnataka

Karthik Madhu is a standout among young volleyball players in India, and is considered to be among the best in the country in his age group.

Also read: Top 10 Indian Golf Players (thetop10spot.com)

Ashwal Rai

Born: February 2, 1993

Ashwal Rai is a 27-year-old volleyball player from India who currently plays as middle-blocker in Kolkata Thunderbolts (India).

He has been playing volleyball for more than a decade and was part of the Indian national team in international competitions such as the Asian Games, South Asian Games, and World Cup. He has also played for several teams in the Indian Volleyball League.

Rai is the one of the best blockers in India and is a Karnataka state player. He has participated in All India Inter University Men Netball tournament held at Hariyana 2012-13 and secured a silver medal in the National Level Men Volleyball tournament.

Achievements of Ashwal Rai

• Has been part of National team
• Regarded as best blockers in India
• Silver medal in the National Level Men Volleyball tournament.

Ashwal Rai is considered to be the future of Indian volleyball, and is highly regarded among the up-and-coming generation of volleyball players in India.

Also read: Richest cricket boards in the World [2023]

Ramavtar Singh Jakhar

Born- 15 may. 1970

Ramavtar Singh Jakhar, a former international volleyball player from Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu area, currently holds the position of chairperson of the Volleyball Federation of India. In 1995, he made his international debut for India, appearing in 89 matches.

He is Secretary, Rajasthan Volleyball Association, Vice-President, Rajasthan Olympic Association, and member of the Selection Committee, Volleyball Federation of India. He has been the Secretary General of Volleyball Federation of India since 2021 after the Delhi High Court permitted release of results of the elections.

Muthusamy Appavu

Born – 10 July 1997

Muthusamy Appavu is a volleyball player from India who currently plays as setter in Ahmedabad Defenders (India).Muthusamy Appavu lead Ahmedabad Defenders at 2022 Prime Volleyball League.

He has also played for several teams in the Indian Volleyball League. Appavu was selected to be the captain of Ahmedabad Defenders in the upcoming season of Prime Volleyball League (PVL).

Appavu is the one of the best setters in India and is a Tamil Nadu state player.

The list of best current volleyball players in India include:

1. Karthik Madhu
2. Akhin GS
3. Ashwal Rai
4. Jerome Vinith
5. Amit Gulia
6. Pankaj Sharma
7. Muthusamy Appavu
8. Kapil Gautam
9. Tejash Bisht
10. Harsh Barala.

Also read : the-Bravehearts-of-India-a-list-of-Indian-freedom-fighters