Bhubaneswar: A four-day Volleyball Mahakumbh concluded at KIIT and KISS in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for the promotion of the game and women’s empowerment in Odisha.
Organised jointly by KIIT–KISS and the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the mega event was officially inaugurated in a colourful ceremony witnessed by nearly 40,000 students.
The event was graced by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, whose presence underscored the global importance of the initiative. Volleyball Mahakumbh, held from December 11 to 14, was organised as part of KIIT & KISS’s flagship ‘Kanya Kiran’ initiative, aimed at empowering women and strengthening grassroots sports development.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Azevedo said the initiative reflects FIVB’s commitment to inclusive growth and gender equity through sport.
He announced that the prestigious FIVB Beach Pro Tour will be hosted in Odisha for three consecutive years from 2026 in partnership with KIIT and KISS. Odisha’s conducive sporting environment and the extensive infrastructure make it an ideal destination for international volleyball events, he said.
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between FIVB, KIIT and KISS. Azevedo also inaugurated the FIVB–KIIT/KISS Centre of Excellence and launched a new Sports Zone, further strengthening Odisha’s position on the global volleyball map.
As part of the Kanya Kiran initiative, a series of workshops were organised during the event for women volleyball coaches from Odisha, other parts of India, and abroad. The workshops focused on training and empowering women coaches, who will in turn train players in their respective regions. Over 500 participants from Odisha and more than 200 coaches, players and experts from India and across the world took part in the programme, which is expected to benefit over 50,000 volleyball players in the long run.
Internationally renowned volleyball coaches John Kessel and Jana Kulan led the training sessions, which included on-court practical coaching, advanced skill development modules, coach-education workshops and public participation programmes. These sessions were conducted across four major indoor courts and more than 40 outdoor courts on the KIIT and KISS campuses.
Speaking on the occasion, KIIT and KISS Founder Achyuta Samanta said the collaboration with FIVB has brought world-class volleyball expertise to Odisha. “Through these workshops, thousands of girls and women will get the opportunity to experience the transformative power of volleyball,” he said.
The event also featured special sessions and panel discussions on the role of volleyball in education, social transformation and youth empowerment, grassroots development of the sport, and issues related to women’s empowerment and equality. Speakers included Fabio Azevedo, Achyuta Samanta, Abhijit B., Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, John Kessel and Jana Kulan.
