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 …
