Gandhinagar: Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the Indian men’s volleyball team for winning the country’s first-ever medal at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup 2026.
India secured the bronze medal after defeating Bahrain 3-1 in the third-place playoff, achieving its best-ever finish in the tournament’s history. The 2026 edition was also significant as India hosted the continental championship for the first time.
Congratulating the players and support staff, Dr. Mandaviya described the achievement as a milestone for Indian volleyball and said it reflected the country’s growing sporting ecosystem and ability to host major international events. He highlighted the government’s focus on talent development, sports science, athlete welfare and international exposure to help Indian athletes achieve sustained success.
Led by captain Jerome Vinith Charles and coached by Serbia’s Dragan Mihailovic, the Indian team remained unbeaten in the pool stage and delivered a strong performance throughout the tournament.
Captain Jerome thanked the government and fans for their support, saying the medal belonged to every Indian who backed the team. Coach Mihailovic praised India’s long-term sporting vision and expressed confidence in the country’s future success on the global stage.
The historic bronze medal also boosted India’s FIVB world ranking, with the men’s team rising 18 places from 60th to 42nd in the latest rankings.
