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Top players on Sony: Volleyball World Club Championship 2023
Mumbai: Volleyball fans in India can celebrate as Sony Sports Network is all set to live broadcast the upcoming Volleyball World Club Championship 2023, which is being held in Bengaluru from 6 to 10 December 2023.
The tournament will feature the six best league teams from across the world: Sir Sicoma Perugia (Italy), Halkbank Spor Kulübü (Turkey), Suntory Sunbirds (Japan), Sada Cruzeiro Vôlei (Brazil), Itambé Minas (Brazil) and Ahmedabad Defenders (India).
The teams are split into two groups of three. Pool A comprises defending champions Sir Sicoma Perugia, Itambe Minas and Indian champions Ahmedabad Defenders while Halkbank Spor Kulübü, Suntory Sunbirds and Sada Cruzeiro make up for Pool B. The two best teams from each Pool will progress to the semi-finals. The grand finale of the tournament will take place at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, 10th December from 8:30 PM IST onwards.
Volleyball fans in India are really looking forward to the tournament as this is the first time the country will host an international club volleyball competition with the matches being live broadcast in prime time. The entire nation will root for local champions Ahmedabad Defenders who will aim to put India on the world map for volleyball.
The Defenders clinched the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by the A23 title earlier this year and qualified for the Volleyball World Club Championship. With the likes of Muthusamy Appavu and Angamuthu Ramaswamy leading the line, the team will carry the hopes of thousands of Indian volleyball fans on their shoulders, heading into the competition.
Additionally, the opportunity to watch some of the best volleyball players in the world including Sir Sicoma Perugia’s 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship gold medal winner Simone Giannelli, and Halkbank Spor Kulübü’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics champion Earvin Ngapeth, Sada Cruzeiro Volei’s Olympics gold and silver medallist Wallace de Souza, Suntory Sunbirds’ Olympics gold medallist Dmitriy Muserskiy and Itambe Minas’ five-time Club World Cup gold medallist Isac Santos is something the fans can eagerly look forward to.
Comments:
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer distribution & international business and head – Sports Business Rajesh Kaul:
“Volleyball World Club Championship 2023 is being hosted in India for the first time and will be live broadcast on Sony Sports Network with both Hindi and English commentary to reach out to a wider set of audience. We have seen an overwhelming response from volleyball fans in the country with our coverage of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and we are confident that the upcoming championship tournament will attract a lot of interest with the Team Ahmedabad Defenders battling for glory.”
Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd managing director and co-founder Tuhin Mishra:
“We at Baseline Ventures remain committed towards helping volleyball grow in India and it gives us immense pleasure to explore an opportunity to put Indian volleyball on the world map by hosting the Volleyball World Club Championship. We are delighted to have continued our association with Sony Sports Network who have been a driving force throughout our journey to help volleyball make aspirational and help reach every corner of the country. There’s a lot at stake at Volleyball World Club Championship 2023, as Ahmedabad Defenders – the club from India will get a chance to compete against the world’s best and pronounce themselves as the world’s best volleyball team.”
Ahmedabad defenders captain Muthusamy Appavu:
“The Volleyball World Club Championship 2023 is a huge platform for the team to prove its mettle. The team has shown its quality in the previous season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and we are now eager to perform to our strengths against the best teams across the world.”
Halkbank Spor Kulübü attacker Earvin Ngapeth:
“We want to move towards the finals in the World Club Championship, step by step. We are in a tough group and both the Japanese and Brazilian representatives are strong rivals. We are aware of the difficulties they will present us in the field. We believe that we will overcome these obstacles. We respect all teams, but our aim is to achieve two wins. We have the power, quality and synergy to do this.”
Sir Sicoma Perugia setter Simone Giannelli:
“We arrived here in Bangalore after a long and tiring trip, but we are obviously happy to be here and to play a difficult competition, which is played during the Italian Superlega, but very beautiful and important. We will face high-level opponents as it should be in a men’s club World Championship, our goal is to show our best volleyball. Personally, it’s my first time in India and I’m happy to be here, I’m waiting to feel the support of the Indian fans at the sports hall”
Tune in to the Volleyball World Club Championships 2023 on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD (English) and Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi) from 6 December 2023, 5:00 PM IST onwards:
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
