Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday felicitated the Indian men’s volleyball contingent for winning the country’s first-ever medal at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup 2026.
India remained unbeaten during the pool stage before defeating Bahrain 3-1 in the third-place playoff to secure the bronze medal—the country’s first-ever podium finish and best performance in the history of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup.
Congratulating the players, coaching staff and support personnel, Mandaviya described the achievement as a landmark moment for Indian volleyball and said it should serve as a stepping stone for greater success.
“This medal is historic, but it should only be the beginning. Every achievement brings greater responsibility and higher expectations. Every policy, every investment and every effort of the Government is aimed at helping our athletes realise their full potential and consistently excel on the international stage,” he said.
The Minister said India’s podium finish on home soil reflected the steady growth of volleyball in the country and demonstrated its capability to successfully host major international sporting events.
The AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup, Asia’s premier annual men’s continental volleyball tournament, was hosted by India for the first time in 2026.
The Indian team, comprising 14 players under the captaincy of Jerome Vinith Charles and coached by Serbia’s Dragan Mihailović, met the Sports Minister in Gandhinagar following the tournament.
Mandaviya said the Centre is strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem through long-term planning, academy development, talent identification, greater use of sports science, athlete welfare and enhanced international exposure. He added that the government’s vision is to ensure sustained excellence across disciplines and establish India among the world’s leading sporting nations.
Expressing confidence in the future of Indian volleyball, he said the team’s historic achievement would inspire young athletes and provide fresh momentum to the sport’s development across the country.
In a post on X, the minister described the achievement as a proud moment for Indian volleyball, highlighting the team’s historic bronze medal, India’s successful hosting of the championship for the first time and the team’s rise to World No. 42 in the FIVB rankings.
“A proud moment for Indian volleyball! Felicitated our men’s team on scripting history with India’s first-ever AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup Bronze Medal. From successfully hosting the championship for the first time to securing a historic podium finish and rising to World No. 42, Indian volleyball is making its mark on the global stage,” he wrote.
Speaking on behalf of the team, captain Jerome Vinith Charles thanked the Government of India for its continued support and dedicated the historic medal to the people of the country.
“We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support extended by the Government. The world-class facilities, training environment, recovery arrangements and overall support allowed us to focus entirely on our game,” he said.
“This historic medal belongs not only to us but to every Indian who filled the stadium and cheered for us throughout the tournament. Their encouragement gave us the strength to fight for every point,” he added.
Head coach Dragan Mihailović praised the government’s long-term vision for Indian sports and expressed confidence that the country would emerge as a consistent contender at major international competitions.
“The direction in which Indian sport is moving is extremely encouraging. The planning, investment and athlete support systems that the Government has already put in place, and those being planned, are exactly what high-performance sport requires. If this momentum continues, I am confident India will regularly stand on the podium at every major international sporting event,” he said.
The bronze medal also earned India valuable FIVB World Ranking points, helping the men’s team climb 18 places from World No. 60 to World No. 42, significantly improving the country’s standing in international volleyball.
