Pakistan set to host Russia's U19 volleyball team next year

Eyeing preparation for the next year’s World Championship in Tashkent, Pakistan Under-19 volleyball team will play a three-match home series against Russian Under-19 team at the start of next summer.

Following an interest shown by the Russian Volleyball Federation to play with the Green-shirts, the country’s volleyball governing body (PVF) has invited them to play with its under-19 team in Islamabad in April-May 2025.

“Although there is a huge gap in volleyball standard between the two nations but at the under-19 level Pakistan will fight and it will help us prepare for the World Championship,” a PVF official told Nukta.

“Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has pledged to address the cooling system of the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad. If it is done then the series between the two nations will be held there,” the official said.

This will be the first time that Russia will be sending its volleyball team to Pakistan.

Early this year Australia’s senior team had also toured Pakistan for the first time. Pakistan senior team had beaten them 3-0 in the series which was aimed to prepare for the Asian Championship.

Due to international sanctions because of the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia is making its concerted efforts to keep their various sports teams engaged in training and competitions by arranging such tours for them and also hosting most of the nations through its diplomatic relationship.

A PVF official said that Russia has also understood that Pakistan’s volleyball is on the rise.

He recalled that the officials of Russian embassy had witnessed Pakistan matches early this year in Islamabad and the embassy then had written to its federation back in Russia that Pakistan’s volleyball level was going up.

Pakistan Under-18 team had claimed bronze in the 15th Asian Men’s Under-18 Volleyball Championship in Manama in August this year.

The PVF has also contacted Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for a camp for the juniors so that they could launch their preparation for the World Championship in Tashkent in July 2025.