Abhijit Bhattacharya, the former captain of the Indian men’s national volleyball team, has been named the Global Winner of the 2025 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Champions Award.
The honour recognises his grassroots initiatives promoting equal access and visibility for girls and boys in sports across rural communities in Assam.
After concluding his professional playing career, Bhattacharya launched inclusive grassroots sports programmes aimed at children in rural and underserved areas of the state. Two of his initiatives – the Assam Volleyball Mission 100 (AVM100) and the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) – have grown significantly, now engaging more than 12,000 children across 400 teams.
Through these initiatives, Bhattacharya has promoted gender equality and social development by ensuring equal participation for girls and boys and bringing sport directly into villages.
Reacting to the recognition, Bhattacharya said, “Representing India in winning this award, and most importantly representing the villages of Assam, makes me deeply emotional. I don’t see it solely as a recognition of my work, but as a tribute to every volunteer, every parent who allowed their daughter to step out and play, and every young girl who believed in herself enough to know that she belonged on a volleyball court. This award tells the community of Assam that their small village matters and that their work matters.”
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He added that the honour highlights the potential of grassroots initiatives to bring meaningful change.
The Brahmaputra Volleyball League, launched in 2020, has grown into one of the largest community-based grassroots volleyball leagues globally. It evolved from the Assam Volleyball Mission 100 initiative started in 2019, which initially aimed to distribute 100 volleyballs to villages. The project later expanded to establish 100 village clubs and eventually led to the creation of the league.
Beyond participation on the court, the league also focuses on creating a safe and supportive environment for girls in sport.
Alongside Abhijit Bhattacharya, the IOC also recognized five continental recipients: Racheal Kundananji, Zambia; Mónica Elvira Franco Luzcando, Panama; Kim Yeon-koung OLY, South Korea; Michele Kang, France; and Robyn Cockburn, New Zealand.
