Meramandali (Odisha): A 17-year-old from Charadagadia village in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district is representing India in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys’ U-18 Championship, which got underway in Haikou, China, on July 12.
Soumya Ranjan Samal, the only Odisha player in the national squad, is a train
ee of Tata Steel Foundation’s (TSF) Volleyball Coaching Centre which nurtures grassroots talent.
Soumya was introduced to the game by his father Prashant Samal, a former state-level player. He joined TSF’s volleyball centre at Paikapuranakote, where he developed his skills under the guidance of coach Ashutosh Patra.
His inspiring journey, from a small village in Dhenkanal to the national team, reflects years of perseverance, discipline and dedicated mentoring.
He used to cycle nearly 40 kilometres daily for training while continuing his education. Consistent performances earned him admission to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Thiruvananthapuram in 2025.
He went on to represent Odisha at the National championships, captain the SAI team at the Junior National Volleyball Championships in Rajasthan and secure his place in the Indian squad from the Volleyball Federation of India’s national coaching camp.