More fans were outside than inside: India's AVC Men's Cup top-scorer Chirag Yadav

The final whistle had barely echoed through Ahmedabad's Veer Savarkar Sports Complex before the celebrations began.

Indian players embraced each other after defeating defending champions Bahrain to secure the country's first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Cup.

The stands remained packed long after the final point, with fans soaking in a moment Indian volleyball had waited decades to witness. Outside the venue, hundreds more supporters were still trying to catch a glimpse of the team.

For Chirag Yadav, who led India with 111 points during the tournament, the fourth-highest tally overall, the scenes were unlike anything he had experienced in an India jersey.

"Honestly, none of us expected such an overwhelming response, and even the Gujarat government didn't expect it," Chirag tells The Bridge.

"They had only opened part of the indoor stadium because they thought not many people would come. But the turnout was unbelievable. There were so many people that more people were left waiting outside than the number who were actually inside watching the matches."

The packed stands became one of the defining images of India's campaign. The hosts went unbeaten in the group stage, reached the AVC Men's Cup semi-finals for the first time and eventually defeated Bahrain twice en route to a historic bronze medal.

For Chirag, the support from the stands became an extra source of motivation.

"Seeing such incredible support gave us a lot of motivation. It was amazing to watch so many people come to cheer for us and support the sport. That kind of atmosphere really pushed us to give our best. I think it's a great sign for volleyball as well. With this kind of support from the fans, the sport will continue to grow and reach greater heights." 

An accidental beginning

Watching Chirag dominate attacks in Ahmedabad, it's difficult to imagine that volleyball was never part of the plan.

Unlike many elite athletes who grow up dreaming of representing India, Chirag stumbled into the sport almost by chance.

"Actually, I started playing volleyball completely by accident. I never had a plan to play volleyball or build a career in the sport," he says.

After finishing his Class 10 examinations, he travelled to Gandhinagar with his uncle. While visiting a training centre, he noticed volleyball trials being conducted at a hostel and decided to participate.

A few weeks later, while back home in Haryana, a phone call changed everything.

"I returned to Haryana after the trials. Then, in June, I received a call informing me that I had been selected and my admission to the hostel had been confirmed. That's when my journey in volleyball began."

That chance decision would eventually take him back to Gujarat, this time as one of India's most important players.

Although Haryana is home, Chirag says Gujarat will always hold a special place in his career because that's where his volleyball journey truly began.

"Many of the people I knew were there, my former coaches, staff members and players I had trained and lived with. It made me really happy to see all of them supporting us. Knowing that the people who had been part of my journey were proud of what I had achieved meant a lot to me."

Performing in front of familiar faces while helping India script history, he says, made the achievement even more memorable.

One final push

The medal, however, was anything but straightforward.

Less than 24 hours before the bronze medal match, India had suffered a heartbreaking semifinal defeat. There was little time to process the disappointment before another high-stakes contest awaited.

According to Chirag, that emotional reset proved to be one of the toughest parts of the tournament.

"The semifinal is actually the toughest match because if you win, you qualify for the final and you're guaranteed at least a medal. But when you lose, it's really difficult. By then, your body is already exhausted, and mentally, you're tired as well."

Instead of dwelling on the loss, the squad chose to move forward.

"We told ourselves that we had given everything we had," he says.

"That's how sports is. There are always ups and downs. That day it was their day. They played well, they had worked hard too, and they deserved the win."

That acceptance helped India regroup quickly. A day later, they returned to the court and defeated Bahrain 3-1 to secure the bronze medal.

"Our only focus after that was to make sure we won the bronze medal."

Eyes on the future

The celebrations, however, will be short-lived.

India's attention now turns to the Asian Championship in Japan before the Asian Games, with Chirag insisting the bronze medal is only another step in the team's journey.

"Tournaments like this definitely help boost our confidence," he says.

"But they also show us where we've made mistakes. No matter how hard we train, the real test only comes when we play matches."

The upcoming tournaments, he believes, will provide another opportunity to fine-tune the team's game before the Asian Games.

The 25-year-old also credited the Prime Volleyball League (PVL) for playing a significant role in raising the standard of Indian volleyball. Having represented Goa Guardians, Chirag believes the league has given young players the platform they needed to showcase themselves at the highest level.

“The PVL has done a great job for Indian volleyball. It has given young players, who otherwise might not have had many opportunities, a platform to showcase their talent,” he says.

And for Chirag, Goa Guardians have been more than just another franchise.

“I’m really happy to be part of the Goa team. The entire management, including Raju Sir (Raju Chekuri, Owner of Goa Guardians) and the support staff, is genuinely committed to the development of volleyball. They want to take the sport to an even higher level and are always ready to support the players in every possible way.”

As Indian volleyball enjoys one of the biggest moments in its history, Chirag hopes the team's bronze medal inspires more youngsters to pick up the sport.

His advice is simple.

"Keep working hard and don't focus too much on the results. Just keep playing, keep improving and keep giving your best every day. If you stay disciplined, work hard and do the right things, your efforts will eventually be rewarded," he concluded.