PVF confident of hosting Russia despite CAV setback

ISLAMABAD: To elevate Pakistan’s standing on the international volleyball stage, the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) is set to host the Russian national team for an exhilarating Test series in late June.

This historic visit marks the Russian team’s debut tour of Pakistan -- an event that promises to captivate sports enthusiasts across the region. The confirmation comes in the wake of a major shift in the regional volleyball calendar. The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) has officially relocated the prestigious Central Asian Volleyball Championship from Pakistan to Uzbekistan, a decision that has been met with both disappointment and resolve by the PVF.

PVF Chairman Ch. Muhammad Yaqoob expressed regret over losing the chance to host the top Central Asian nations later this month. “We exhausted all the efforts to assure the participating nations that Pakistan was ready and capable of hosting a world-class event,” Yaqoob stated.

“However, majority of the federations opted against traveling to Pakistan due to prevailing geopolitical concerns.” Yaqoob added that while some countries had shown willingness to compete in Pakistan, the Indian Volleyball Federation strongly opposed the idea, citing security concerns amidst regional tensions.

“Ironically, they also lobbied to play this year, having missed the last edition held in Pakistan. But with this now being a ranking tournament, the AVC made the decision to shift the event to Uzbekistan,” Yaqoob explained.

The championship is now scheduled to commence on May 29 in Uzbekistan. Despite this setback, Pakistan -- reigning champions of the tournament, will participate with high hopes of defending their title and improving their international ranking.

“This event is not only vital for our regional dominance but also serves as a critical benchmark for our players in the run-up to major global competitions,” the chairman added. In a promising turn of events, Yaqoob shared that Russia are “eager and excited” to visit Pakistan for the first time, with discussions advancing rapidly.

“They’ve confirmed their willingness to tour and play a full series in late June. This will be a landmark series for Pakistan volleyball.”

In preparation for the anticipated rise in international fixtures, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has also initiated efforts to upgrade facilities at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad. Tenders are currently being floated for the installation of a modern, energy-efficient air conditioning system.

“Last year, when we hosted Australia and later the Central Asian event, we had to rely on temporary cooling solutions. Next time, we aim to offer world-class comfort and conditions for players and fans alike,” Yaqoob said.

With the Russian tour on the horizon and Pakistan’s title defense set in Uzbekistan, the coming months promise to be thrilling for volleyball in the country -- an opportunity for Pakistan to reaffirm its place as a regional powerhouse in the sport.