Two of India’s most experienced volleyball players, who recently faced each other in the final of the Mongolian league, were not part of even the initial 40-member national camp for the upcoming AVC Men’s Cup. Middle blocker Jerome Vinith, who won the Mongolian league title with Tuv Mig Wolves, and Ashwal Rai, who finished runner-up with Altaiin Bars, became the first Indians to play in the league. Yet, both were initially excluded from India’s national coaching camp in Ahmedabad. Their omission, and the events that followed, have now raised serious questions over selection criteria, governance, and the overall direction of Indian volleyball. In an exclusive conversation with The Bridge, Ashwal Rai and Jerome Vinith opened up about the situation. “The mistake is getting the opportunity and playing abroad” The official reason cited for their exclusion was that they had not participated in the national championship. But Jerome said this was never communicated as a mandatory condition. “Before, many players went to play abroad and came directly to the national team… But now I don’t know …