India's historic AVC Volleyball bronze should be 'only the beginning,' says Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Gandhinagar: Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated India's men's volleyball team after it secured the country's first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup 2026, describing the achievement as "historic" while urging the players to aim for greater success in the future.The Indian contingent, led by captain Jerome Vinith Charles and coached by Serbia's Dragan Mihailović, met the Sports Minister in Gandhinagar following their bronze-medal finish at the continental tournament."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," Mandaviya said.The 2026 edition of the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup was hosted by India for the first time. The hosts remained unbeaten during the pool stage before defeating Bahrain 3-1 in the bronze-medal match to secure India's maiden podium finish in the competition.

The result also boosted India's position in the FIVB men's world rankings, with the team climbing 18 places from No. 60 to No. 42.Mandaviya said the performance reflected the steady progress of volleyball in India and highlighted the country's ability to stage major international sporting events.

He added that the government's focus remained on strengthening the sporting ecosystem through long-term planning, talent identification, sports science, athlete welfare and greater international exposure.Captain Jerome Vinith Charles credited the support system around the team for the historic achievement."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.

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 said.Head coach Dragan Mihailović also praised the government's long-term approach towards sport, expressing confidence that India could become a regular medal contender at major international events if the current momentum is maintained.