THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

MERAMANDALI, JULY 11, 2026

Tata Steel Foundation's sustained investment in grassroots sports has produced yet another national star, with 17-year-old volleyball player Soumya Ranjan Samal earning a place in the Indian squad for the 2026 AVC Boys' U18 Volleyball Championship, scheduled to be held in Haikou, China, from July 12 to 18. The talented youngster from Charadagadia village in Odisha's Dhenkanal district is the only player from the state to make the national team, bringing pride to Odisha ahead of Asia's biggest youth volleyball championship.

Organised by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the China Volleyball Association (CVA), the tournament is not only the continent's premier U-18 volleyball competition but also serves as the qualifying event for the 2027 FIVB Boys' U19 World Championship, with the top four teams securing qualification.

Soumya's rise from a rural village to the national stage is a remarkable story of determination, sacrifice and unwavering commitment. Introduced to the sport by his father, Prashant Samal, a former state-level volleyball player, Soumya honed his skills at the Tata Steel Foundation Volleyball Coaching Centre in Paikapuranakote under the guidance of coach Ashutosh Patra.

His journey demanded extraordinary perseverance. Balancing academics with sport, Soumya cycled nearly 40 kilometres every day to attend training sessions. His dedication paid rich dividends when he earned admission to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Thiruvananthapuram in 2025. Since then, he has represented Odisha at national championships, captained the SAI team at the Junior National Volleyball Championship in Rajasthan and finally secured his India call-up after impressing selectors during the Volleyball Federation of India's national coaching camp.

Expressing his happiness, Soumya said, "Wearing the India jersey is a proud moment for me and my family, and I am determined to give my best for the country at the AVC Championship."

His father, Prashant Samal, said, "I would like to sincerely thank the efforts of Tata Steel Foundation and coach Ashutosh Patra for giving my son a platform to achieve everything from here. Now, this journey of my son will surely give hope and belief to many dedicated players across our region to aspire to play for India."

Congratulating his trainee, Ashutosh Patra, Volleyball Coach, Tata Steel Foundation, said, "Soumya's journey has been built on consistency, discipline and an eagerness to learn. His selection to the Indian team is a well-deserved recognition of years of hard work. We are proud of his achievement and confident that he will represent India with determination and excellence."

Adding to the chorus of appreciation, Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, President of the Odisha Volleyball Association (OVA), congratulated Soumya and the Indian contingent on successfully completing the national coaching camp at the International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) for Volleyball at KIIT, Bhubaneswar, and wished them success in the continental championship.

Soumya's achievement also reflects the growing impact of Tata Steel Foundation's grassroots volleyball initiative. Launched in 2019 with just 11 players, the programme has expanded to nurture 668 young volleyball players, including more than 120 girls, while producing 215 district-level, 179 state-level and 35 national-level players.

As India prepares to challenge Asia's best in Haikou, Odisha's lone representative carries not only the hopes of the nation but also the inspiring legacy of grassroots development, proving that talent, when backed by opportunity and perseverance, can rise from village courts to the international arena.