Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship (Men and Women) via video conferencing in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, underlining India's growing sports culture and the city's emergence as a regional sports hub.

The prestigious national tournament is being held at the Sampoorna­nand Sports Stadium, Sigra, and will run from January 4 to 11.

Addressing players, officials and spectators, the Prime Minister said the enthusiasm for sports was rising across the country, including in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"Today, there is a new enthusiasm for sports across the country, including Purvanchal. I am extremely pleased to have inaugurated the National Volleyball Tournament in my parliamentary constituency of Varanasi," he said.

Drawing a parallel between volleyball and India's development journey, PM Modi remarked that both were rooted in collective effort and trust.

"I see many common things between India's development story and volleyball too. Volleyball teaches us that no victory happens alone. Our victory depends on our coordination, our trust, and the readiness of our team," he said, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in nation-building.

The Prime Minister noted that India's performance across disciplines had steadily improved over the past decade.

"India's performance in various sports has been consistently improving since the year 2014," he said, adding that the country takes immense pride in young athletes excelling on the global stage.

"We feel very proud when we see Gen-Z hoisting the tricolour on the sports field," he said.

Highlighting India's growing ambitions in global sports, PM Modi said the country was preparing to host major international events in the coming years.

"The 2030 Commonwealth Games are also going to be held in India. India is also making full efforts to host the 2036 Olympics," he said, underscoring the government's push to strengthen sports infrastructure and global competitiveness.

The week-long championship will feature over 1,000 players from 58 teams representing states and institutional units from across the country. The tournament is expected to showcase top-level competition, sportsmanship and emerging talent in Indian volleyball.

Hosting the Senior National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi reflects the city's expanding focus on sports development alongside its well-known cultural and spiritual heritage. With improved facilities and an increasing number of national-level events, Varanasi is steadily positioning itself as a key destination for major sporting and cultural programmes.

The tournament also aligns with broader national efforts to promote grassroots and professional sports, providing young athletes a platform to compete at the highest level and contributing to India's long-term sporting aspirations.