News Headline
India gets a full-court press as Jr NBA 3v3 tournament goes nationwide
MUMBAI: If India needed a sign that basketball is bouncing into its next era, this one arrived with a slam dunk. The National Basketball Association (NBA), ACG and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) have announced the 2025–26 edition of the ACG Jr NBA 3v3 National Tournament now the country’s largest school-level basketball programme with a nationwide tour spanning 10 cities and thousands of U-14 boys and girls.
The latest season tips off on 27 November in Ludhiana, dribbling its way through Chennai, Udaipur, New Delhi, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Prayagraj, Mumbai, Kochi and Indore, before culminating in a national finals showdown early next year. The top two boys’ and girls’ teams from each zone, along with one all-star team per division, will battle it out for national honours. Dates for the remaining legs as well as the finals will be revealed in phases.
The programme, operated by grassroots powerhouse India On Track, marks the biggest footprint yet for Jr NBA in India. Since landing in the country in 2013, the Jr NBA initiative has touched over 15 million young people and trained more than 15,000 physical education instructors across 35 cities. Its wider ecosystem now includes the NBA Basketball School, which offers structured coaching in 13 cities for boys and girls aged six to eighteen.
Footwear giant Skechers returns as the official kit partner, suiting up every participating team with high-performance gear as part of the programme’s continued push to improve playing experience and safety.
NBA India country head Rajah Chaudhry called the initiative the “cornerstone” of India’s grassroots basketball pathway, noting that several Jr NBA alumni have already represented India, joined elite NBA development camps, and competed in American collegiate leagues. “Together with ACG, BFI and Skechers, we’re proud to build opportunities for young athletes to grow, compete and dream,” he said.
BFI president Aadhav Arjuna highlighted that interest at the school level continues to rise. “Each year, we see a stronger talent pipeline and this programme is key to sustaining it.”
For ACG, which lends its name and long-term support to the tournament, the mission is both sporting and social. Managing director Karan Singh said the initiative proves basketball can be “democratised”, reaching children in every corner of India “irrespective of background”. The emphasis, he said, is on building safe, inclusive environments that shape confidence and character beyond the court.
BFI secretary general Kulvinder Singh Gill echoed the sentiment, calling the 3v3 format “a significant step” in fostering skills, speed, teamwork and discipline.
Skechers South Asia CEO Rahul Vira added that as basketball’s fan base rises sharply across India, the brand is keen to “equip young athletes with high-quality gear that lets them play their best”.
Fans can follow the entire journey via NBA India’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and X, while the broader 2025–26 NBA season streams live in India on Prime Video and NBA League Pass via the NBA App.
For now, India’s hoop dreams look set for a growth spurt and the Jr NBA 3v3 Tournament is ensuring the country’s youngest ballers get their shot.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
