by Ashis Sinha
Giridih, Jharkhand : In a pioneering move that could redefine talent identification in Indian sports, the Mongia National Volleyball Academy (MNVA) in Giridih, Jharkhand, has become the first volleyball institution in India to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) for player selection and development. The academy has introduced the Volleyball Affinity Index (VAI) — a cutting-edge, AI-driven evaluation tool designed to assess and select players with greater precision and efficiency.
AI at the Service of Indian Volleyball’s Future
The VAI is being hailed as a game-changer for grassroots volleyball in India. By using AI algorithms, the tool analyzes various performance parameters and player attributes to offer data-backed insights for talent spotting and nurturing. Officials at MNVA believe this is the first step towards creating a robust digital database for Indian Volleyball, one that will serve as the foundation for building a future-ready team capable of performing at the elite international level over the next decade.
“Empowering the grassroots of Indian Volleyball with AI is no longer optional — it is the need of the hour,” said the Secretary General of MNVA, adding,
“If India is to command respect on the world volleyball stage 10 years from now, we must act today. The integration of modern technologies like AI and VAI is essential for this transformation.”
A Vision for a Decade
The move comes at a time when Indian Volleyball is witnessing a resurgence, both in terms of popularity and international performances. The MNVA’s vision is to ride this momentum by revolutionizing grassroots training and selection using the latest technological innovations.
“Do adopt AI in your volleyball avenues before it’s too late — just as other industries are transforming with technology, sports must too,” the MNVA official emphasised.
By adopting AI, the academy also aims to enhance transparency, reduce biases in selection, and build a future-ready ecosystem that nurtures young talent from the ground up.
