TNI Bureau: Dr Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and KISS, has been unanimously elected as the Chief Patron of the Indian Volleyball Federation (VFI). The decision was taken during the Annual General Council meeting of the VFI held on the sidelines of the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship 2026 in Varanasi.

The meeting was attended by presidents, secretaries and office-bearers of state volleyball associations from across the country. The championship was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Although Dr Samanta, who also serves as President of the Odisha Volleyball Association, could not be present at the meeting due to prior commitments, the VFI President and General Secretary contacted him over the phone. After he gave his consent, the federation formally nominated him as Chief Patron for a four-year term.

The federation said Dr Samanta was chosen in recognition of his long and significant contribution to the promotion of volleyball in India. During the meeting, the General Council also approved KIIT as the host venue for the upcoming National Youth Volleyball Championship.

The VFI also congratulated Dr Samanta on being conferred the Grand Cross Award by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and on his appointment as a member of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation Council.

Thanking the federation for the honour, Dr Samanta expressed his gratitude to VFI President Virendra Kanwar, General Secretary Ramanand Chaudhury and all members of the federation, as well as the Odisha Volleyball Association. He recalled that he had earlier served as President of the Indian Volleyball Federation from 2020 to 2024 and said he would continue to work for the growth of volleyball in Odisha and across the country.