Dialog powers youth volleyball as President’s Gold Cup 2025 begins
The President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament 2025, a flagship event in Sri Lanka’s sporting calendar and a proven cradle for rural volleyball talent, will get underway this weekend in Colombo.
This year’s edition carries special significance, marking two decades of unwavering support from Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider. Since 2005, Dialog’s continuous sponsorship has breathed new life into the tournament, securing its place as a vital pathway for grassroots athletes to reach the national stage.
Players representing nine provinces in this year’s Dialog President’s Gold Cup
First staged in 1991, the President’s Gold Cup was commenced to facilitate District-level players the opportunity to compete nationally, representing their local sports clubs instead of institutional or corporate teams. The inaugural final at the refurbished Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, (renovated for the 6th SAFF Games) was attended by the then-President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who envisioned the competition lasting at least a quarter of a century.
While the early years were promising, the tournament’s momentum faded until 2005, when Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation partnered with Dialog to revitalise the event. Since then, it has been held uninterrupted, producing a steady pipeline of talent for the national men’s and women’s teams. In fact, every current national player has honed their skills on its courts, making it a proven gateway from rural playgrounds to international arenas.
In a move to further nurture emerging talent, the 2025 tournament will be contested as an Under-25 championship. The national selectors will track performances closely, identifying prospects for both senior and junior national squads. This weekend’s opening fixtures will feature Western Province district matches at the Torrington ground, before the tournament travels across other provinces.