Jhililata Sena, the first woman international volleyball player of Odisha, added another first to her curriculum vitae (CV) by completing the FIVB Level-II Coaching Course in Manama, Bahrain yesterday. The course was organised by Bahrain Volleyball Association, under the auspices of International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) in Manama, Bahrain from 14 to 18 September 2025.

Though the FIVB coaching courses start with Level I, Jhililata, being a former international player, was allowed to participate in the Level-II course directly. After completing the FIVB Level-II Course, she became the first international and top most qualified woman volleyball coach of Odisha.

“Attending the FIVB Level II Coaching Course was an invaluable experience as I gained a lot of knowledge from FIVB instructor Mohammed Jalal Ali. We also appeared for theory and practical tests during the course,’’ said Jhililata, who is an employee of East Coast Railway and posted in Bhubaneswar.

The FIVB Level II coaching certificate makes her eligible to impart coaching to National teams. “I have been an assistant coach of the Indian Railway volleyball team. Now I am qualified to take up coaching assignments for National teams,” added the former India allrounder.

During her playing career, Jhililata represented the Indian womens volleyball team for 2002 to 2009, winning one gold and one silver medal for the country. She was a member of the Railway womens team that bagged five gold and one silver medal in National championships between 2006 and 2010. She also represented Odisha in Junior and Senior National Championships from 3003 to 2005.
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PHOTO: Former Odisha woman volleyball international Jhililata Sena poses with her FIVB Level-II Coaches Course certificate in Manama on 18 September 2025.