Indian men volleyball team, featuring Rahul Barik from Odisha, was not officially allowed to participate in the ongoing AVC Asian Volleyball Challenge Cup in Taiwan, Chinese Taipei and the first match it had played and won 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17) against Hong Kong in Pool-C was forfeited.

Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and host Chinese Taipei Volleyball Federation took the decision after receiving a letter from the Ad-Hoc Committee, which did not recongnise Indian team.

Ad-Hoc Committee to run the affairs of a conflict-ridden Volleyball Federation India (VFI) was constituted by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) with the approval of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

The unfortunate episode came as a painful blow for the players of the Indian team who suffered for no fault of theirs. Madras High Court, of course, directed the Ad-Hoc Committee to recognize the Indian team, but in vain. The damage had already been done!
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PHOTO: Indian players celebrate after beating Hong Kong at the AVC Asian Volleyball Challenge Cup in Taiwan on 9 July 2023, unaware of fact that match would be forfeited.