INBL aims to be part of India basketball's path to World Cup 2027

BENGALURU (India) - Throughout the recent years, the future foundation of Indian basketball has been gradually laid out. Whether it's the pushing for younger talents to get exposure in senior competitions like the FIBA Asia Cup or the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers or identifying the next batch of talents at an early age, Indian basketball is looking ahead.

Another key step in that process is having a platform for the players to compete against each other domestically, which is something for which players and fans have been waiting for a long time. That step was boldly taken in late September 2022 as the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) announced the first season of the India Basketball National League (INBL) 5x5.

"This day should be marked in golden letters in the history of Indian basketball. We are launching what has been the dream for millions of basketball fans in India," said a delighted Dr. K Govindaraj, MLC President, BFI and Vice-president, Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The league began competing in October in which local teams featuring local stars play against each other in different cities around India. This assures the exposure of competition for the players, exposure of these players to the fans, and gives the national team program more opportunities to evaluate these talents.

"Earlier this year we launched and executed successfully the INBL 3x3 Season 1, which saw more than 9,000 players in action in 20 cities across the country. The overwhelming response from the players proved the potential for basketball in India."

With that potential comes expectations. And BFI are setting high expectations for their program.

"The current goal of BFI is for the India National Teams to be ready to play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 and possibly the Olympics thereafter. And I do believe with all the things being done now and planned, we are on the right track," Dr. Govindraj boldly declared.

There is much confidence within BFI that the INBL is certainly a big step forwards towards their targeted goal.

"Ultimately, it is the responsibility of National Federation to ensure that there is sufficient competition for the players and coaches as well as there is enough entertainment for the supporters and fans," said BFI secretary general, Chander Mukhi Sharma. "I am confident that INBL 5x5, which is being attempted for the first time in India, will fulfill both objectives."

One of those objectives is to strengthen the national team pool. With the pool of young players being identified in the competitions over these past few years, INBL will provide these players with a platform to compete and improve consistently.

"Players from the National team and National camps over the past few years will be pooled together and distributed to the teams to ensure there is quality action on court," he added.

"In recent times, we have seen some very encouraging progress from our National Teams. The Under 16 team finished an unprecedented fifth in the FIBA U16 Asian Championship and the senior team too has shown steady progress in FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers."

"All these are very encouraging signs for Indian basketball."

The first round of the INBL was played in Kochi from 16-20 October. The hometown team Kochi Tigers emerged victorious as champions of the first round after collecting 4 wins in 5 games. The MVP of this first round, Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi, confirmed the optimism surrounding the INBL and hopes to be a good example of which this competition has been much needed.

 

"This league makes me feel that India basketball is taking step forward and I'm very happy to be part of it," said the 22-year-old. "I'm even more happy when it playing in our own country."

 

Poiyamozhi was one of India's stars from the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2016. He also made a senior national team debut at Asia Cup 2017. As a promising young talent, he knows how important a competition like this can be.

"INBL is very important to players especially the next generation of basketball in India," he said. "This league will lead our next generation to something more."

Coming in closely behind Poiyamozhi and the Tigers were the Chennai Heat, lead by their star Muin Bek Hafeez.

The 26-year-old was a breakout star at the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and he had been targeted at a young age, standing out at youth competitions and being including in the youth national team pools. But he knows that not all youngsters have the benefit of that consistent exposure. That's why he's been among one of the senior national team players that have pushed heavily for this league to begin.

"I'm glad INBL started," he said. "All of us were waiting for a league to play with each other and work throughout the year, to showcase what more can one do as a player, and it's finally here. Thankful to BFI for this! This was much needed and is surely important for all the ballers!"

"My expectations, to be exact, would be to keep this happening throughout the year and keeping it in such a way that it brings the benefits out of the player and for the player, for the better development of the game, I guess this would be it for short and long term."

In the long term, however, Hafeez is expecting great things for the INBL.

"Once this league grows," he said. "Oh, it's gonna be crazy out there."

Not only does he hope the local fans in India continue to follow and watch the games, he hopes that fans from outside of the country tune in as well.

"I'm sure the fans will see the crazy games and talents in the player and that basketball is equally a crazy sport in India, too."

FIBA