The FIVB Beach Pro Tour Challenge 2026 concluded on 8 March 2026 at the Dutee Chand Athletic Stadium on the campus of KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar.
The five-day international beach volleyball tournament was organised and hosted by KIIT University and brought together 83 teams from 52 countries. More than 300 players and officials participated in the event.
The tournament turned the KIIT campus into a centre for international beach volleyball during the competition. Students, sports enthusiasts and spectators attended the matches and watched teams from different countries compete at the university’s sports facilities.
Gold Medal Matches at FIVB Beach Pro Tour Challenge 2026
In the Women’s Gold Medal Match, the Japanese pair Shiba/Reika faced the United States team Durish/Koenig. The American duo showed strong coordination and attacking play throughout the match. They won in straight sets 2–0 (21–18, 21–16) to secure the gold medal. The Japanese pair delivered a competitive performance and finished the tournament with the silver medal.
The Men’s Gold Medal Match featured Sepka/Dzavoronok of the Czech Republic against Vercauteren/Van Langendonck of Belgium. In a closely contested match, the Belgian team played with control and consistency to win 2–0 (21–10, 22–20). With this victory, Belgium claimed the championship title, while the Czech Republic team finished as runners-up and received the silver medal.
Closing Ceremony
During the closing ceremony, a message from Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Odisha was shared with the audience. A video message from Mansukh L. Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Labour and Employment, was played during the event. He congratulated the organisers and participants for successfully conducting the international tournament. Referees and officials associated with the championship were also felicitated for their contribution to the event. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor of KIIT University.
KIIT Becomes First University in India to Host FIVB Beach Pro Tour Challenge
With the successful organisation of the tournament, KIIT Deemed to be University became the first university in India to host an event of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Challenge series.
The tournament was officially inaugurated on 4 March 2026 by Prithiviraj Harichandan in the presence of international delegates and sports officials. Players and officials who participated in the event mentioned the sports infrastructure and arrangements made by KIIT University during the tournament. Many participants also spoke about the accommodation, food and facilities provided on campus.
The tournament concluded with applause from spectators, marking the end of five days of international beach volleyball competition hosted at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar.
About KIIT University
KIIT Deemed to be University is a multidisciplinary university located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Established in 1992, the university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in fields such as engineering, management, law, medicine, design and social sciences. KIIT University has modern academic and sports facilities and regularly hosts national and international academic, cultural and sporting events.
