A unique volleyball tournament aimed at promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities in sports concluded successfully in Arunachal Pradesh, where organisers hosted what they described as the world’s first short-height men’s volleyball tournament with a specially modified net system.The second edition of the “Short Height Men’s Volleyball Tournament with Short Net Height” was organised at Rasing village in Siang district by the North Eastern Sports and Cultural Organization from May 3 to May 14.The tournament was conducted exclusively for male players with heights ranging between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 7 inches. To make the competition more balanced and suitable for the participants, organisers used a specially designed volleyball net with a height of 7 feet 2 inches, lower than the international standard height of 7 feet 11 inches. A total of 20 teams from Siang, East Siang, West Siang and Upper Siang districts participated in the tournament. Organisers said the initiative was aimed at creating a fairer platform for athletes who are often at a disadvantage in height-dependent sports.
The final match was played on May 14, where Friends IX Team defeated Generation Z Team by 3-1 sets to win the tournament title. Prizes and trophies were distributed during the closing ceremony by Ibrahim Pajing and Dina Tatak. Speaking during the event, Ibrahim Pajing, who introduced the “IP Height Classification” system, explained the larger objective behind the tournament and the concept of height-based sports categories. Pajing said many sports already use classifications to ensure fair competition. He pointed out that disciplines such as boxing, wrestling and weightlifting divide athletes into different weight categories, allowing competitors of similar physical build to compete against one another. However, he said several other sports, including volleyball, basketball, athletics, swimming and jumping events, do not have any separate categories for shorter athletes. According to him, this often places shorter players at a disadvantage against taller competitors. He said the lack of such classifications reduces opportunities for many talented athletes to compete effectively at higher levels.
Pajing also cited examples of international boxing stars such as Mary Kom, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sugar Ray Leonard, saying their achievements became possible because combat sports follow weight-based divisions.As part of the initiative, Pajing introduced the IP Height Classification (IPHC) model, which proposes dividing athletes into categories such as Very Short Height, Short Height, Medium Height, Tall Height, Very Tall Height and Super Tall Height. According to organisers, the classification system is intended to promote fairness, equality and wider participation in sports by creating competitive structures suited to different height groups.
