Saqlain Tariq: The Setter with a Volleyball Legacy

When coach Dragan Mihailovic named the Indian volleyball players who've made a real impact, one of the first names he mentioned was Saqlain Tariq.

The 27-year-old setter from Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, has carved a path few from the Valley have dared to tread. For him, volleyball isn't just a sport, it's what he was destined to do.

Born into a family of national-level players - his father Mohammad Tariq and brother Ramiz Tariq - the 6'3" Saqlain's journey began early. He first picked up the sport as a sixth grader and by the time he was in eighth, he had moved to the Punjab Sports Hostel to chase bigger dreams. At just 17, he became the first player from the Valley to don the India jersey, debuting at the 10th Asian Youth Volleyball Championship in Colombo in 2014.

More than a decade later, the glow of that first international outing hasn't faded. Yet, it's the friendly matches back home at the Manjeet Singh Volleyball Club, or the daily training sessions with 50-60 young hopefuls, that bring him the most joy.

Even as Indian volleyball battles infrastructural and administrative hurdles, Saqlain remains optimistic. He sees the Prime Volleyball League (PVL)- now heading into its fourth season - as extremely vital for the sport in India.