India withdraw from Central Asian volleyball event in Pakistan
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The Indian volleyball team have withdrawn from the upcoming Central Asian Volleyball Championship, just weeks after confirming participation, in response to rising political tensions with following an attack in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) had initially submitted entries for a 30-member contingent — comprising 22 players and eight support staff — to the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF), organisers of the regional tournament.
However, India's Union Sports Ministry advised the federation to pull out in protest of attack in Pahalgam, IIOJK, which left 26 people dead.
The regional championship, scheduled from May 28 to June 4 at the Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad, is set to host national teams from Iran, Pakistan, and other Central Asian countries.
Pakistan had successfully hosted the event in 2024, emerging as champions over Turkmenistan.
While India's withdrawal affects the original lineup, officials noted the team's middling performance in past continental events — 11th place in the 2023 Asian men's tournament and 7th for the women — minimising the competitive impact.
Tournament organisers have confirmed that four nations will still compete as planned.
Earlier, Pakistan expelled 23 Indian nationals working for a Pakistan Super League broadcast partner in response to rising diplomatic tensions following the recent Pahalgam incident in IIOJK.
The Indian staff were part of a technical team contracted by a broadcast company to cover the 10th edition of the HBL PSL, which began on April 11 and is scheduled to run until May 18.
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