KIBG: How Tamil Nadu's fisherman community is fuelling India's beach volleyball growth

Volleyball powerhouse Tamil Nadu became champions in both men's and women's categories at the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025 in Diu.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE DIU, 26 MAY

The dominance of the South Indian state in this sport is a routine affair; one story however stood out from the sand courts — the rise of beach volleyball players from the state's fishing hamlets.

Two athletes in particular, Robin Ravi, 23, and Bharat Somu, 22, have emerged from the Palavakkam coastal community to represent India at international events like the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Continental Cup finals in Bangladesh in 2023, winning bronze. The duo also won the silver medal in the men's volleyball tournament at the inaugural KIBG on Friday. "We live on the beach. It's our life. Walking, working, and playing on the sand is second nature to us," Robin and Bharat said unanimously. Their journey, like many others in the fisherman community, began by watching seniors play volleyball in nearby makeshift courts. Both players started young—Robin at 10 and Bharat at 15. With no formal coaching in the beginning, they learned through observation and passion.

"They have been practicing on a ground within their own hamlet in Palavakkam. Their dream is to represent India at the Olympics," said A J Martin Sudhakar, veteran volleyball coach and administrator, who was also the competition manager for the sport at KIBG 2025.

Sudhakar was the coach of Pradeep John and Mohan Poothathan, who gave India a 9th place finish in Volleyball at the 2006 Asian Games. This was Indian volleyball's best-ever finish at the continental event.