Indian volleyball needs continuity, defence focus: US stalwart David Lee | Hindustan Times

David Lee, a former USA volleyball Olympic champion, has successfully coached the Bengaluru Torpedoes to victory in the Prime Volleyball League (PVL) title in Hyderabad, drawing on his six years of experience in India to understand the sport's local dynamics. He notes that volleyball in India is evolving positively, with younger players making significant impacts earlier in their careers, a shift from past reliance on long-standing veterans.

Despite this progress, Indian volleyball has struggled historically, failing to qualify for the Olympics or achieve major successes at Asian levels since the 1980s, with only occasional highlights like a silver in the CAVA Nations League. Lee identifies defense and ball control as key weaknesses, pointing out that while Indian players excel in athleticism and attacking skills, they lag behind countries like Japan and Korea in foundational aspects, which hinders international performance.

Political issues within the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) have further hampered the sport, including suspensions due to infighting and legal delays in elections, though recent developments have led to a new executive body. The launch of the Prime Volleyball League in 2021, independent of VFI, has expanded to 10 teams over four seasons, with Lee advocating for a longer league and training periods to foster consistency and better prepare players for international competitions.