GOA GUARDIANS LAUNCH GUARDIANS TROPHY, CREATING A NATIONAL U21 PLATFORM WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ALL 10 PVL FRANCHISES
Powered by the Prime Volleyball League, the three-day tournament will feature 120 of India’s leading young volleyball players at the newly refurbished Don Bosco Oratory Indoor Court in Panjim, Goa, from 14–16 August 2026.
PANAJI, GOA, 29 July 2026: Goa Guardians, a franchise of the Prime Volleyball League, today announced the inaugural Guardians Trophy, India’s first pan-franchise U21 volleyball tournament, scheduled to take place from 14 to 16 August 2026 at the newly refurbished Don Bosco Oratory Indoor Court, Panjim, Goa. Built around the vision of From Goa, For India, the Guardians Trophy is an initiative conceived and hosted in Goa with a larger national purpose: to create a credible competitive platform for India’s next generation of volleyball players. Powered by the Prime Volleyball League, the tournament will bring together the U21 squads of all ten PVL franchises for the first time in league history, providing a national competitive platform to 120 of India’s most promising young volleyball players. The participating teams are: Ahmedabad Defenders U21 (Ahmedabad), Black Hawks U21 (Hyderabad), Calicut Heroes Next (Calicut), Chennai Blitz U21 (Chennai), Delhi Toofans U21 (Delhi), Kochi Blue Spikers U21 (Kochi), Mumbai Meteors Youth (Mumbai), Thunderbolts Army U21 (Kolkata), Torpedoes U21 (Bengaluru), and host team – Goa Guardians U21 (Goa). Each franchise will field a 12-player squad comprising players aged 21 and below. The first two days will feature the group stage, followed by the semi-finals and grand final on 16 August. All matches will be conducted under official match conditions, with licensed referees and full broadcast coverage on the Goa Guardians YouTube Channel. “India has immense young volleyball talent, and our aim with the Guardians Trophy is to give these players the platform, exposure and competitive opportunities they need to grow. We hope this initiative encourages more stakeholders to continue investing in structured pathways for the next generation.” said Raju Chekuri, Owner, Goa Guardians and CEO, Netenrich Inc. “The Guardians Trophy is an important step towards creating stronger pathways for young volleyball players in India. Talent needs opportunity, exposure and the right environment to grow, and this tournament brings all of that together on one platform. The idea of ‘From Goa, For India’ reflects exactly what we want to achieve – building something meaningful in Goa that can contribute to the future of Indian sport. I am proud that Goa Guardians is taking the lead in creating this stage for the next generation of volleyball players.” said KL Rahul, Co-Owner, Goa Guardians. The Guardians Trophy reflects Goa Guardians’ long-term commitment to youth development, grassroots participation, sporting infrastructure and the creation of clear pathways for emerging players to progress towards professional volleyball. “In India’s historic bronze medal campaign at the AVC Championship,13 of the 14 players in the Indian national team were from the PVL, a testament to the role the league is playing in discovering and developing talent. It’s time to take the next step forward in extending this ecosystem. The Guardians Trophy is exactly about that, creating a pathway for future Indian volleyball stars. That journey begins at the grassroots, by giving young players the opportunity to compete, develop and experience a professional environment. We are extremely happy to work with and support Goa Guardians in building this pathway for the future of Indian volleyball.” said Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO, Prime Volleyball League. DON BOSCO ORATORY REBUILT FOR SPORT The tournament will also mark the official relaunch of the Don Bosco Oratory Indoor Court as one of Goa’s leading indoor volleyball facilities. Goa Guardians has undertaken a comprehensive refurbishment of the venue, including the installation of a professional multi-sports wooden playing surface, upgraded lighting, improved spectator infrastructure and broadcast-ready technical provisions. The venue will subsequently be formally designated as the Home of Goa Guardians ahead of Prime Volleyball League Season 5. TOURNAMENT PARTNERS Netenrich joins the Guardians Trophy as the Title Sponsor, lending its support to the tournament’s vision of creating a national platform for India’s next generation of volleyball players. As a long-standing partner of Goa Guardians, Netenrich’s association with the inaugural edition reflects a shared commitment to youth development, sporting excellence and the wider From Goa, For India mission. The Prime Volleyball League joins the Guardians Trophy as Principal Partner, providing institutional support, franchise coordination and league-level oversight for the tournament’s structure and officiating standards. Rysum, the Official Kit and Match Ball Partner, will provide playing kits for all ten teams, tournament officials and the organising team, along with the official match and training balls. Manipal Hospitals, the Official Medical Partner, will provide on-ground emergency medical care and healthcare support throughout the tournament, ensuring professional medical assistance is available for all participating players and officials
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