Mintonette+ junior volleyball league debuts with franchise model

Maharashtra’s first franchise-based junior volleyball competition, the Mintonette+ Volleyball League Junior 2026 , was launched with a player auction in Navi Mumbai, marking a shift toward a commercial and structured model for youth sports development.

Organised by Mintonette+ Academy under the aegis of the Maharashtra Volleyball Association , the event brought together senior sports administrators, former national players and franchise owners. The initiative aims to build a sustainable ecosystem for junior volleyball through grassroots engagement, structured training pathways and regular competitive exposure.

The league features 12 franchises across boys’ and girls’ categories , representing regions including Mumbai, Pune, Latur, Beed, Kolhapur, Amravati, Nagpur, Nashik and Palghar. Organisers said the statewide footprint reflects growing investor and institutional confidence in volleyball as an emerging youth sports market.

Key officials present included MVA President Vijay Dangrae , MOA Secretary Sanjay Sethae , Joint Secretary (Sports, Maharashtra) Sunil Agarkar and MVA Secretary Nilesh Jagtap , along with volleyball veterans such as Suresh Gaikwad , Mohd. Zama and Pratibha Prabhu . The league’s official ball and jersey were also unveiled, reinforcing its branding and commercial identity.

The auction saw competitive bidding, led by Anooja Kumar in the girls’ category at ₹60,000 (Nagpur Super Queens) and Sayed Arsalan in the boys’ category at ₹40,000 (Beed Amens). Several players trained by Mintonette+ Academy secured selections, highlighting the league’s focus on homegrown talent.

Closing the event, Dr. Jaya Gupta Rajesh described the league as the beginning of a broader movement to transform junior volleyball in Maharashtra. With franchise participation, institutional backing and a clear development roadmap, the Mintonette+ Volleyball League Junior 2026 positions itself as a pioneering business model for youth sports and talent development in the state.