Indian volleyball team wins bronze at AVC Nations Cup under Serbian coach Dragan Mihailovic

India’s men’s volleyball team has secured a bronze medal at the AVC Nations Cup, held in Ahmedabad, marking a notable achievement under Serbian head coach Dragan Mihailovic. The team won five consecutive matches against New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, and Bahrain before losing to Indonesia in the semi-finals. The bronze medal match saw India defeat Bahrain in front of an estimated 8,000 spectators.

The tournament served as a qualification event for the AVC Continental Cup, scheduled for September in Fukuoka, Japan. India has qualified for the 12-team continental event and is also eligible for the Asian Games, pending approval from the Sports Ministry.

Mihailovic, aged 68, returned for his second stint as India’s head coach after initially leading the team in 2019. In an interview, he cited the warmth of the Ahmedabad crowd and the team’s potential as reasons for his return. He stated that the team’s talent and hard work are evident, but emphasised the need for sustained training and administrative support.

The coach has requested a nine-week training camp to improve the team’s speed, efficiency, and reception. He has brought in a performance analyst and a strength and conditioning coach from Italy to assist. Mihailovic acknowledged the bureaucratic challenges but stressed that cooperation between officials and players has yielded results.

Indonesia, which defeated India in the semi-finals, has a more developed league system featuring international players from Italy, Serbia, and Poland. Mihailovic noted that India could learn from such structures but expressed confidence in the current squad’s potential.

The Indian team’s performance in Ahmedabad has generated optimism about the sport’s growth in the country. The domestic Prime Volleyball League has contributed to raising the standard of play. Mihailovic stated, “There is talent. Just give us a chance, you’ll see.”