Controversy erupts over Himachal Pradesh Volleyball team selections

A cloud of controversy has engulfed the beautiful city of Shimla as the selection process for Himachal Pradesh’s senior national volleyball team has come under intense scrutiny, with allegations of favoritism, nepotism, and a lack of transparency.

Players have raised serious concerns over deserving candidates being excluded in favor of less-deserving players, including a coach’s son.

During the trials held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Shimla last week, approximately 75 boys and 45 girls participated.

Initially, 35 names were shortlisted, and 14 players were selected for the team. However, players allege that irregularities occurred after the trials, with names being mysteriously added or removed. 

Allegations of nepotism

Speaking exclusively to The Bridge about the situation, a senior player who wished to remain anonymous said inclusions were made after the trials.

“Some who didn’t make it to the top 14 were somehow included later. Even among those 14, seven weren’t deserving. The captain of the Himachal team, Suresh, was replaced by someone underqualified. If you want to join the Indian team or even the Himachal team, these kinds of issues shouldn’t happen.”

The aggrieved player also revealed that no fitness tests – such as speed, agility, or jump tests – were conducted during the trials, in all probability to avoid the disqualification of favored candidates.

The controversy has largely centered around the inclusion of coach Satish Sharma’s son, Tavish Sharma, in the team.

The senior player alleged that favoritism is evident. 

“Nepotism is blatant. The coach’s son and other unqualified players are being favored. I’ve been sidelined for a boy under 17. I’ve represented India, and won 37 tournaments in a year – something others take a lifetime to achieve – but none of that matters in this rigged system.”

The player further claimed that this is not an isolated incident, citing examples of players quitting the sport due to similar experiences:

“I can name 3–5 boys from Shimla alone who’ve quit volleyball because of this coach’s actions in the past few days.”

Impact on players’ careers

The incident has left many players disheartened with questions being asked over their future in volleyball.

“For many, playing three Senior Nationals is their only chance at a sports quota job. But deserving players are losing out. One boy even took a loan just to attend trials. It’s heartbreaking,” said the player.

Another excluded player is Akshay Kapta, who is incidentally Himachal’s only representative in the Pro Volleyball League and has appearances in four Senior Nationals on his resume.

Other players, including former captains and seasoned athletes, were also overlooked.

Efforts to seek justice

The players have reached out to various authorities, including the Chief Minister and the Volleyball Federation of India, demanding a retrial.

Players have also expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the issue by the ad hoc committee formed by the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) following its dissolution by the Supreme Court.

The player highlighted the lack of responsiveness from the committee.

“The Volleyball Federation of India has been dissolved, and an Olympic Session 1 Core Committee has been formed to manage volleyball until the court resolves the issue. But this committee seems biased. Emails and calls to the committee, including its head, Alaknanda Madam, have gone unanswered. Despite providing detailed reports and evidence, no action has been taken,” said the player.

Players believe media support is crucial in exposing the truth and restoring fairness.

“The media needs to amplify our voices. Trials should be transparent, with qualified selectors. Nepotism must end. Otherwise, talented players will leave, and Himachal’s volleyball team will never reach its potential,” the anonymous player concluded.

How favoritism hurts deserving players

Another player, who dedicated himself to the sport for years despite numerous obstacles, shared his frustrations about the systemic issues plaguing the sport in the region.

This player’s journey began at a very young age, driven by an unrelenting passion for volleyball. Despite suffering a severe shoulder injury in his twenties, he overcame skepticism from family and friends to make a remarkable recovery.

And yet, personal challenges soon gave way to systemic hurdles that proved harder to navigate.

The player recalls how favoritism within the selection process derailed not just his career but also the careers of many others.

Coaches often sidelined talented and experienced players in favor of less deserving candidates with connections. And players allege that there have been several instances where younger, underqualified players have been picked over seasoned athletes, with coaches prioritizing personal biases over merit.

The situation has now reached a breaking point when nepotism has supposedly became blatantly obvious.

Prominent among these cases was the inclusion of a coach’s son in the team, bypassing several deserving candidates. Talented players who had represented Himachal Pradesh at national levels were left out, their hard work and dedication overshadowed by backdoor politics.

Accordingly to the players that The Bridge spoke to, such favoritism crushes the spirit of dedicated athletes, many of whom make immense sacrifices to pursue their passion.

One boy supposedly took a loan to attend trials, only to be ignored in favor of someone less skilled. Players from modest backgrounds often find themselves cornered and are forced to leave the sport entirely, unable to compete with a seemingly rigged system.

Despite stepping away from competitive volleyball, this player continues to fight for fairness.

He now mentors young players and advocates for a more transparent and merit-based selection process.

His story is a powerful reminder of how deep-rooted favoritism and systemic corruption can destroy the dreams of even the most talented athletes.

What lies ahead?

With the team scheduled to leave Shimla on 4 January, time is running out if corrections to the selection are to be made.

The players, however, remain hopeful that their calls for transparency and justice will be heeded, ensuring a fair selection process that prioritizes merit over favoritism.