India's men's volleyball team wins historic AVC bronze

India's men's volleyball team secured its first-ever medal at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men’s Volleyball Cup 2026, beating Bahrain 3‑1 in the third‑place playoff to claim bronze. The victory lifted India from World No. 60 to No. 42 in the FIVB rankings and was celebrated by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, who highlighted the achievement as a milestone and linked it to the government’s long‑term sport‑development plans. Team captain Jerome Vinith Charles and Serbian coach Dragan Mihailovic praised the support and facilities provided by the host nation.

Gujarat Home and Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi also lauded the team’s performance after attending the semi‑final against Indonesia in Ahmedabad. He noted the packed stadiums, the unbeaten run to the semi‑final and the narrow loss in the decisive set, saying the team’s fighting spirit would inspire young athletes and reinforce Ahmedabad’s emergence as a global sports city. Sanghavi used the occasion to promote the state’s Shala Praveshotsav initiative for under‑privileged children.