The Basketball Federation of India recently concluded its 74th Senior National Basketball Championship, held at the Sidsar Sports Complex in Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
The event saw participation from over 900 players and 150 officials, representing 30 men’s teams and 28 women’s teams from various states across India.
- Winners:
Men’s Championship:
Champion: Tamil Nadu
Runner-up: Punjab
Third Place: Railways
- Women’s Championship:
Champion: Railways
Runner-up: Kerala
Third Place: Tamil Nadu
In the group stage, Tamil Nadu, featuring Indian national squad players Pranav Prince, Aravind Kumar, Muin Bek Hafeez, and Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi, began their campaign with impressive victories over Kerala and Rajasthan, securing their spot in the knockout rounds. Tamil Nadu then cruised into the finals by defeating Uttar Pradesh in the quarterfinals and Karnataka in the semifinals.
On the other hand, Punjab reached the finals by overcoming the Services team in the quarterfinals and Railways in the semifinals.
The final was a perfect recipe for excitement, with both teams boasting players from the Indian national squad.
However, Punjab struggled with their shooting when it mattered most, ending the match with a 42% field goal percentage for 2-point shots, compared to Tamil Nadu’s 63%. Turnovers also cost Punjab heavily, as Tamil Nadu capitalized by scoring 24 points off those turnovers. Pranav Prince led the assists with 7, contributing significantly to Tamil Nadu’s victory.
Tamil Nadu clinched the title with an 80-56 victory over Punjab. Key players included Anantharaj and Aravind Kumar, each scoring 17 points, and Muin Bek Hafeez with 15 points. Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh were the top scorers for Punjab with 20 and 15 points, respectively.
In the women’s category, Railways showcased their dominance by winning all their group matches and advancing to the knockout rounds. They continued their impressive run by defeating Rajasthan in the quarterfinals and Tamil Nadu in the semifinals to secure a spot in the finals.
Meanwhile, Kerala reached the finals by overcoming Maharashtra and Delhi in their respective knockout matches. In the final, Railways emerged victorious with a commanding 86-53 win over Kerala. Key players for Railways included Dharshini Thirunavukkarasu, who scored 16 points, Pushpa Senthil Kumar with 14 points, and Poonam Chaturvedi adding 13 points. For Kerala, R Sreekala and Susan Florentina were the standout performers.
Pranav Prince (Tamil Nadu) and Dharshini Thirunavukkarasu (Railways) received the MVP awards, each winning a Maruti WagonR car.
The champion teams received five lakh rupees each, while the runner-up teams received three lakh rupees.
Third-place teams were awarded two lakh rupees each. R Sreekala of Kerala and Kanwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu were recognized for their three-point shooting prowess, each receiving Rs. 50,000.
