The Volleyball Champions League commenced with two competitive matches at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Noida, drawing significant attention on October 7.
Bollywood actor and Chief Guest Sonu Sood attended the opening day, emphasising the league’s role in offering a platform for emerging and established athletes. He stated, “I congratulate everyone who has come together to bring this league to life. It is a great opportunity for youngsters as well as established players to showcase their talent and get the platform they deserve. I am sure this league will help take volleyball to more people and give players the confidence to compete at a higher level.”
The event also featured Asian Games gold medallist Arjun Deswal, international kabaddi player Rohit Baliyan, and Volleyball Champions League founders Dhiraj Manjeri and Kulvant Baliyan.
The opening match saw Emperia Marathas secure a 2-1 victory against Punjab Aerostrikers. Emperia Marathas took an early lead by winning the first two sets 21-17 each. Despite Punjab Aerostrikers showing resilience and winning the third set, Emperia Marathas maintained composure to close the match. Jatin Padwal was named Player of the Match, and Shubham Chaudhary was awarded Impact Player for Emperia Marathas.
In the second match, Tamil Titans defeated Haryana Hurricanes 2-1. The Tamil Titans won the first set 21-14 and the second 21-17. Haryana Hurricanes responded by narrowly winning the third set 21-20 but could not overcome the earlier deficit. Angamuthu Ramaswami received the Impact Player award for Tamil Titans, with Tanish Chaudhary recognised as Player of the Match.