Record-breaking prize money awarded at National Women's Volleyball event

The first Annual Girls' National Volleyball Tournament concluded on Monday at the PSB Coaching Center in Karachi. The tournament saw Army, Friends Club Faisalabad, and Faisalabad United bag the title in their respective categories.

Army dominated the Open category (Above 21), securing a convincing 3-0 win over Karachi Women Volleyball Academy in the finals.

In the Under-21 category, Friends Club Faisalabad took top honors, defeating Karachi Women Volleyball Academy in the finals.

Meanwhile, Faisalabad United secured a comprehensive 3-0 win over Danish School Rahim Yar Khan in the Under-18 final.

The competition was organized by Empower Sports Academy in collaboration with Pakistan Volleyball Federation.

The tournament offered a record-breaking total prize money of Rs2.7 million across all categories, a milestone for national women's events in Pakistan, according to the organizers. Additionally, the most valuable players of the tournament were awarded two electric bikes.

The tournament offered a record-breaking total prize money of Rs2.7 million across all categories.Empower Sports Academy

The former head coach of the Pakistan national volleyball team, Alessandra Campedelli, said that “there is no shortage of passion and talent for volleyball in Pakistan but we need to give them a chance”.

“Pakistan is a sports-loving nation. We should give youth full planning opportunities,” she told Nukta.

“Empower Sports Academy is a good organization through which girls from all over Pakistan got an opportunity to play an excellent event. We hope that this will create interest for volleyball in Pakistan.

“Sports facilities should be increased. If children start playing from the age of seven or eight years, the results can be better."

Alessandra also said that qualifying for the Olympics is difficult but not impossible.

“We have to plan long term for this. There is a need for regular training camps for female athletes. Infrastructure should also be increased. Youth should be included in sports by increasing resources,” she said.

She further said that her coaching experience with the Pakistan team was excellent and if she is invited again in the future, she will definitely come to Pakistan.

Alessandra served as Pakistan coach between February and December 2024.

Meanwhile, Malaika Junaid, founder of the Empower Sports Academy, said that it is her dream that the Pakistan women's team should qualify for the Olympics and give a great performance there.

“If we try to qualify for the Olympics, we will definitely succeed,” Malaika said.