Brazil has taken an important step in the development of the next generation of sitting volleyball athletes by hosting the first Youth Sitting Volleyball National Championship in the ParaVolley Pan America Zone.

The Brazilian U23 Sitting Volleyball National Championship was held from August 6 to 9 in Porto Alegre, at the Ginásio do Grêmio Náutico União, bringing together 12 teams and nearly 50 young athletes from different regions of the country. The competition featured athletes between 12 and 22 years old, providing them with an important opportunity to compete, gain experience and continue their development within the sport.

Over two days of competition, 36 matches were played across two courts. The event also provided an important development opportunity for officials, with eight referees involved — two national and six regional — alongside four scorers, contributing to the continued growth of the technical workforce supporting sitting volleyball in Brazil.

SESI Suzano-SP was the major winner of the championship, claiming gold in both the women’s and men’s competitions. SESI-SP took silver in both categories, while Instituto Athlon-SP completed the women’s podium in third place and ADFEGO-GO earned bronze in the men’s competition. All matches were also broadcast through CBVD TV, allowing the wider sitting volleyball community to follow the event.

Beyond the results, the championship represents an important investment in the future of sitting volleyball in Brazil. Creating regular opportunities for young athletes to compete is essential for their development, allowing them to gain experience, build confidence and progressively prepare for the demands of senior national teams.

The initiative is particularly significant in a sport where international opportunities for youth athletes remain limited. The Youth Parapan American Games are held only once every four years, making national and regional competitions an important part of creating a continuous pathway for young players to develop and remain connected to the sport.

Brazil’s initiative can serve as an example for other countries across the ParaVolley Pan America Zone. Developing youth competitions, creating spaces for young athletes to compete and strengthening the structures around them are key steps toward building stronger national programmes and ensuring that today’s young players become tomorrow’s national team athletes.

ParaVolley Pan America congratulates Brazil and the CBVD for this important milestone and for investing in the future of sitting volleyball. The first Youth National Championship is not only a significant achievement for Brazilian sitting volleyball, but also an example of how continued investment in young athletes can help the sport grow throughout the Americas.

With initiatives like this, the region can continue creating more opportunities for its youngest athletes, strengthening the foundations of sitting volleyball and supporting the next generation as they take their first steps toward the highest levels of the sport.