Mandaur Village (near Prayagraj), UTTAR PRADESH :

Raipur:
Abdullah, a talented mid-blocker from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre (STC), Raipur, has brought pride to the nation by winning a bronze medal representing India at the Under-15 World School Volleyball Championship, held at Shangluo, China, from 4 to 13 December 2025.
A residential trainee at STC Raipur for the past two years, Abdullah has shown steady growth and consistency at the international level. Earlier in July 2025, he was a key member of the Indian team that secured a bronze medal at the Under-16 Asian Volleyball Championship held in Thailand.
Coming from a humble background, Abdullah is the son of a welder, Mohammed Raju. Expressing overwhelming happiness on his son’s international success, his father said, “Hum poori mehnat karenge, Abdullah bas tum desh ke liye khelo. STC Raipur mein mere bete ko jo training mili, usne uske talent ko tarasha aur aaj usne desh ke liye medal jeeta.”
Abdullah began playing volleyball at his birthplace Mandaur, a small village near Prayagraj, known for its strong volleyball culture. Observing his natural ability, a well-wisher from the village advised his family to provide him with professional training. This guidance led to Abdullah’s induction into SAI Training Centre, Raipur in 2023, where structured coaching and continuous support from SAI helped him develop into an international-level player.
Following his recent achievements, Abdullah has now been selected for the Under-17 World Volleyball Championship, scheduled to be held in Thailand in 2026. With focused preparation and team effort, he aims to help India improve upon previous performances and compete for the gold medal.
Abhishek Singh Chauhan (ITS), Regional Director, SAI RC Bhopal, expressed happiness over Abdullah’s achievement and appreciated the collective efforts of the coaches and support staff for nurturing international-level talent at the centre. He highlighted that athletes from SAI Training Centres (STCs), along with those from SAI National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), are delivering remarkable international results, which is a very positive sign for the future of sports in India.
Ms. Garima Chaudhary (Olympian & Deputy Director), Centre In-charge, SAI Training Centre Raipur, also congratulated Abdullah on his commendable achievement and wished him continued success in his sporting career.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Sports / by Sahar Khan / December 14th, 2025




















