13. Yejju Subba
Yejju Subba Rao is an Indian professional Outside Hitter volleyball player and head coach. He was born on August 3, 1981, and has been awarded the best player on numerous occasions by the national federation and local awards.
He has won several awards, including “Most Valuable Player” and “Best Spiker” at the 2003 Asian Championship, as well as “Best Blocker” at the 2003 and 2005 Asian Championships.
He has played for the Indian national team and has also worked as a head coach for a volleyball club in India.
Some of his achievements include Winning individual awards at the 2003 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship, including Most Valuable Player, Best Spiker, and Best Blocker.
12. G. R. Vaishnav
G. R. Vaishnav, born February 11, 1990, is a distinguished member of the Indian men’s national volleyball team, recognized for wearing the Number 1 or 11 jersey.
Originating from Coimbatore and now based in Chennai, Vaishnav is a key player for the Indian Overseas Bank volleyball team and currently represents Ahmedabad Defenders in the Pro Volleyball League.
His volleyball journey began at M Nanjappa Chettiar Matriculation School and developed professionally at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Coimbatore.
Vaishnav was instrumental in India achieving its best-ever fourth place in the 2009 FIVB U-21 World Championship, Pune, and securing a historic silver medal at the 2014 Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup, where he was also named Best Blocker.
Noted for his blocking prowess, Vaishnav has earned Best Blocker honors in major international tournaments, including the 2010 Junior Asian Championship in Thailand and competitions in Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Qatar, Dubai, and Malaysia.
He has accumulated several national and international medals, cementing his extensive contribution to Indian volleyball.
11. Muthusamy Appavu
Muthusamy Appavu is an Indian volleyball player who currently plays as a setter for the Ahmedabad Defenders in the Prime Volleyball League.
He was born on July 10, 1997, and has been a key player for the Indian national team, contributing to their success in various competitions, including the U23 Asian Championship.
Muthusamy Appavu has also served as the captain of the Ahmedabad Defenders, leading the team to victory in the second season of the PVL in 2023.
Additionally, he is a registered employee of BPCL, Kerala, and has been a prominent figure in the Tamil Nadu Volleyball League.
Standing at six feet and eight inches tall, he is known for his exceptional setting skills and leadership on the court.
He has won several individual awards, including the Best Blocker award in the Asia Cup 2014 in Kazakhstan, the Best Blocker award in the Junior Asian Championship 2010 in Thailand, and the Best Blocker award in tournaments held in Tunisia, Qatar, Dubai, and Malaysia.
10. Ashwal Rai
Ashwal Rai is an Indian volleyball player born on February 2, 1993, who currently plays as a middle-blocker for the Ahmedabad Defenders in the Prime Volleyball League.
He has represented the Indian Men’s Team in various competitions, including the Asian Games.
Rai is known for his exceptional skills and has been a key figure in the historic participation of the Ahmedabad Defenders in the Club World Championships, marking a significant moment for Indian volleyball.
Some of his achievements include Representing the Indian Men’s Team in the Asian Games contributing to victories against strong opponents like Cambodia and Korea and Participating in the historic Club World Championships as a member of the Ahmedabad Defenders, marking a significant moment for Indian volleyball.
9. G. E. Sridharan
G. E. Sridharan is a former Indian men’s national volleyball team player from Tamil Nadu, India, who played from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.
He was the second player from Tamil Nadu to receive the Arjuna Award in 1982.
Sridharan has also made significant contributions as a coach, leading the Indian youth volleyball team to a gold medal in the Asian Volleyball Championship.
He was awarded the Dronacharya Award in 2008 for his coaching achievements. Sridharan’s coaching success includes a Bronze Medal at the Asia Cup in 2010.
His notable achievements as a player include winning a Bronze Medal at the 1986 Asian Games held in Seoul.
Sridharan is recognized as an efficient and influential figure in Indian volleyball, both as a player and a coach.
8. Karthik Madhu
Karthik Madhu is a member of the Indian men’s national volleyball team and currently plays for Kochi Blue Spikers in the RuPay Prime Volleyball League.
He has been named the “Heartbeat of Spikers” for his team.
Madhu has been a part of the sport for more than 10 years and has tasted success as a captain, leading Karnataka to the gold in the 2018-19 senior nationals after almost 45 years.
He was also the captain of the Indian team during the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship.
He believes that the introduction of a mind wellness trainer by the team management will be an added advantage for his side and the sport.
He feels that all players need to have a sense of responsibility to make sure that they give their best, make their team win, and bring laurels to the country.
His interactions with his teammates remain the same regardless of whether he is a captain or not.
7. Nirmal Kaur Saini
Nirmal Kaur Saini (1938-2021) was an Indian volleyball player and the captain of the Indian women’s national volleyball team.
Born on October 8, 1938, in Sheikhupura, Punjab (now part of Pakistan), she graduated from Panjab University with a master’s degree in Political Science in 1958.
Nirmal Kaur Saini was married to athlete Milkha Singh and was the mother of golfer Jeev Milkha Singh.
She passed away on June 13, 2021, due to COVID-19 complications.
6. Suresh Kumar Mishra
Suresh Kumar Mishra is a former Indian volleyball team captain. He was born in Laxmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, India, on September 25, 1953.
He led the Indian team in the Asian Games held in Bangkok in 1978. For his achievements, he was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1979 by the Government of India.
After winning the Arjuna award, he served as the coach of the Abu Dhabi police volleyball team from 1980 to 1995. He is considered one of the most famous volleyball players in India.
5. Abdul Basith
Abdul Basith was a prominent volleyball player who served as the captain of the Indian men’s national volleyball team.
He was a member of the team that won the bronze medal in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games.
Basith was born in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and was recognized for his significant contributions to Indian volleyball, representing the country at the international level and achieving success in the sport.
He died in 1991 and was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1989.
4. Balwant Singh Sagwal (ballu)
Balwant Singh Sagwal, popularly known as Ballu, was an Indian volleyball player and a star of the Indian men’s national volleyball team.
He was born in 1945 in the Kaul village of Haryana state’s Kaithal district.
He joined the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jalandhar, Punjab, which had a reputation for producing quality volleyball players at the time.
During the mid-1960s and 1970s, he was responsible for helping Punjab achieve national success.
He was awarded the country’s top sporting honor, the Arjuna Award, in volleyball in 1972 for his excellent sportsmanship and contribution to the national team.
Singh played for India in the Asian Games of 1970, 1974, and 1978. He also played test matches for India in 1970, 1978, and 1980.
His son Narender is also a professional volleyball player who plays for the Indian volleyball team.
Balwant Singh Sagwal passed away on November 14, 2010.
3. Cyril Vellore
Cyril Vellore is a former Indian men’s national volleyball team player from Kerala.
He is a former captain of India’s men’s national volleyball team and was instrumental in leading India to a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Seoul in 1986.
Vellore, who is from Kerala, was a noteworthy performer because of his spectacular spiking and blocking talents.
He has represented India in several national and international competitions.
In 1986, he was conferred the Arjuna Award for his contribution to Indian volleyball. Cyril is an alumnus of Calicut University.
2. A. Palanisamy
A. Palanisamy was a volleyball player from Tamil Nadu, India, who represented the country in the Asian Games in the early 1960s.
Born in 1932 in Kallampatti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, he was nicknamed “Black Panther” due to his ferocious attacks in the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta.
Palanisamy was the first player to receive the Arjuna Award in 1961 in the volleyball category.
He was the coach for the Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu before retiring in 1998.
He passed away on November 12, 2007.
1. Jimmy George
Jimmy George (March 8, 1955 – November 30, 1987) was an iconic Indian volleyball player and the captain of the India national volleyball team.
Revered as the “God of Indian volleyball,” George is widely regarded as one of the greatest volleyball players of all time. Born in Thundiyil, Peravoor, Kannur, Kerala, he learned volleyball from his father, a former university-level player.
George represented Kerala University from 1973 to 1976, leading them to four consecutive All India Inter-University Championship titles and captaining the team in 1973.
He joined the Kerala State Team at 16 and quit medical college in 1976 to pursue volleyball professionally, joining Kerala Police.
In 1979, George became the first Indian volleyball player to turn professional, playing for Abu Dhabi Sports Club in the Persian Gulf, where he earned recognition as the best player in the region.
He later played in Italy’s top professional volleyball leagues for Pallavolo Treviso (1982-1984), System Impiani, and Eurosibo Eurostyle, competing alongside some of the world’s best players.
On the international stage, George represented India at the Asian Games in Tehran (1974), Bangkok (1978), and Seoul (1986), where he led India to its historic bronze medal finish.
He captained the Indian team during victorious campaigns in Saudi Arabia (1985) and the India Gold Cup International Volleyball Tournament in Hyderabad (1986).
His career was tragically cut short when he died in a road accident in Italy in 1987 while playing for Eurostyle.
Jimmy George remains the youngest volleyball player to receive the Arjuna Award, India’s prestigious national sports honor, and his legacy continues to inspire Indian volleyball.