Hyderabad Black Hawks announce roadmap to develop volleyball in AP and Telangana

Hyderabad Black Hawks, one of the leading franchises of Prime Volleyball League (PVL), has announced a long-term grassroots development initiative aimed at strengthening volleyball across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The initiative was formally launched after the successful conduct of PVL Open Trials and Under-21 player selection trials at VR Siddhartha University in Vijayawada on Thursday. The trials witnessed enthusiastic participation from aspiring volleyball players, with 105 athletes competing in the Under-21 category and 40 players taking part in the PVL Open Trials.

Volleyball: Hyderabad Black Hawks to hold open trials for team in Vijayawada on Aug 6

Inaugurating the trials, M Ramprasad Reddy, Andhra Pradesh minister for sports, youth services and transport, lauded Hyderabad Black Hawks for their sustained efforts over the past four years to promote volleyball in the Telugu states. He assured the state government’s full support for the franchise’s grassroots development initiatives and emphasized the importance of creating greater opportunities for young talent across Andhra Pradesh.

A Ravi Naidu, chairman of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP), thanked Hyderabad Black Hawks for choosing Vijayawada to host the trials. He expressed SAAP’s commitment to supporting the franchise’s vision of establishing volleyball training centres, beginning with two government schools in the district and eventually expanding to every mandal. He also invited the franchise to consider hosting a future season of the Prime Volleyball League in Vijayawada.

Speaking on the occasion, Abhishek Reddy Kankanala, founder of KSG and principal owner of Hyderabad Black Hawks, outlined the franchise’s long-term vision to build a sustainable volleyball ecosystem across both states.

“Our commitment extends far beyond professional competition. We want to create a structured pathway for young athletes by conducting annual talent hunts, supporting district and rural tournaments, organizing coach education programs with national and international experts, and providing talented players with opportunities to progress into professional volleyball,” he said.

He further announced that the franchise aims to work closely with the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to identify two government schools in every district, with a special focus on introducing and nurturing volleyball among students from Classes 6 to 8.

“No single organization can transform a sport on its own. By working together with governments, sports authorities, federations and local communities, we believe the Telugu states can emerge as India’s strongest volleyball hub,” he added.

Players who impressed during the PVL Open Trials will be eligible for selection in the Prime Volleyball League Players Auction, scheduled to be held in Goa on August 17.

The event was attended by Penamaluru MLA Bode Prasad, SAAP board member Santosh, former international volleyball player and SAAP director A Ramana Rao, TDP youth leader Bode Venkatram, and several distinguished members of the volleyball fraternity.

The announcement comes at a significant moment for Indian volleyball, following the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) officially recognizing the Prime Volleyball League (PVL) as India’s First Division Professional Volleyball League. This recognition enables eligible Indian clubs to qualify for international competitions conducted under the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA), the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), and the FIVB, subject to qualification criteria.