Hyundai Capital Withdraws from Volleyball Cup Amidst Scheduling Conflicts
Hyundai Capital has withdrawn from the remainder of the 2025 Yeosu NH nonghyup Cup professional volleyball tournament, citing unsustainable demands following prior scheduling adjustments for the V-League.A team official expressed frustration, stating, “it feels like we are constantly being forced to sacrifice.”
The withdrawal stems from restrictions imposed by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) related to the upcoming Men’s World Championship (September 12th-28th). The FIVB prohibited league matches for three weeks surrounding the championship,forcing the Korea volleyball Federation (KOVO) to postpone the V-League men’s season opener from September 18th to September 20th. This change meant defending champion Hyundai Capital lost its opportunity to host the opening match.
KOVO attempted to gain full approval for the cup tournament, arguing its status as an event rather than a league competition. However, the FIVB granted only conditional approval, stipulating that players on national teams’ 25-player preliminary rosters for the World Championship, as well as foreign players, were ineligible to participate.
This ruling significantly depleted Hyundai Capital’s roster. The team will be without key players including foreign outside hitter Leo, Asian quota opposite spiker Bayarsaikhan, starting setter Hwang Seung-bin, middle blocker Jung Tae-jun, and libero Lim Sung-ha. As an inevitable result, Hyundai Capital was left with only eight available players, lacking both a libero and an opposite spiker, forcing players to fill unfamiliar positions and increasing the risk of injury.
KOVO has announced that any remaining Hyundai Capital matches in the tournament will be recorded as forfeits, adhering to FIVB regulations. Though, their opening match loss to OK Savings Bank on September 13th will stand.
The tournament’s men’s division will now consist of only six teams, as the invited Thai team, Nakhon ratchasima, will participate in closed practice matches before returning home, in accordance with FIVB guidelines prohibiting foreign team participation. A KOVO official issued an apology for the disruption to the tournament schedule, expressing repeated regrets for the inconvenience caused.
