In preparation for the prestigious FISU World University Games 2025, to be held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, from July 16 to 27, India has named its men’s and women’s basketball squads following an intensive training camp in Kochi.
The selections come after a focused 15-day camp organized by Mahatma Gandhi University, which utilized the world-class facilities of the Starting Five RSC Basketball Academy at the Regional Sports Center.
The Indian women’s team will be captained by Yashika Singhal from Rajasthan, while the men’s team will be led by Krishnapalsinh Gohil from Gujarat. Both captains bring notable university-level and national experience to their sides as India prepares to face strong competition on the global stage.
Coaches and Support Staff
The women’s team will be coached by the renowned C V Sunny, an international player who currently captains the Indian senior women’s team. The men’s team, on the other hand, will be guided by Ram Kumar, an acclaimed coach from Rajasthan and recipient of the Dhyan Chand Award, who has played a pivotal role in shaping university-level talent in recent years.
Supporting the head coaches are assistant coaches Johnson Thomas from the Kerala State Sports Council (women) and Lokesh Mohan from Jain University (men). The delegation will be led by Binu George, Director of Physical Education at Mahatma Gandhi University. The management team also includes Soumya Joseph from Christ University Bangalore and Sujith Surendran Nair from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi.
In a nod to modern sports science, the squad will travel with sport psychologist Stalin Raphel from St Joseph’s College Irinjalakuda, underscoring the focus on mental preparation alongside physical readiness.
Group Placements
At the Games, the Indian women’s team finds itself in Group A, where they will compete against Finland, Argentina, and Czechia teams known for disciplined systems and strong fundamentals. The men’s team has been drawn into Group B, alongside heavyweights USA, as well as Romania and Latvia, both of whom bring significant European basketball pedigree.
While challenging, the draw offers Indian athletes a valuable opportunity to test themselves against some of the world’s best young talent and gain exposure that could help elevate Indian university basketball standards.
Indian Women’s Basketball Squad
The women’s team brings together talent from across the country, reflecting the growing spread of the sport beyond traditional strongholds:
- Yashika Singhal (C), Sonal Mahala, Manvi Srivastava – Rajasthan
- Akshaya Philip, Sandra Francis – Kerala
- Jeevika Kumar, Tejasri Mahesh Kumar – Tamil Nadu
- Riya Pramod Kunghadkar, Sanjana Pinto – Maharashtra
- Priyanka Behal – Punjab
- Anju – Haryana
- Prashitha Shetty – Karnataka
This diverse lineup combines shooting prowess, fast-paced transition play, and defensive versatility. The experience of Singhal and the emerging talents from southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu promise to add balance to the squad.
Indian Men’s Basketball Squad
The men’s team also showcases a mix of seasoned university players and dynamic young talent:
- Krishnapalsinh Gohil (C) – Gujarat
- Anshuman Shekhawat, Lokesh Kumar Sharma, Mohammed Ishan, Yash Vardhan Singh – Rajasthan
- Suganthan Balakrishnan, Sangeethkumar Pandi – Tamil Nadu
- Jeshua Antonio Dos Remedios Pinto – Goa
- Kirtiraj Singh Chundawat – Madhya Pradesh
- Arun Lalchand Yadav – Maharashtra
- Nathan Abrham Bhilla – Telangana
- Ankesh Prashar – Bihar
Led by Gohil, the squad benefits from Rajasthan’s strong university basketball culture and the dynamism of players from Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Telangana. Together, they will look to surprise higher-ranked opponents with team-oriented play and defensive grit.
The Indian teams enter the 2025 FISU World University Games with a realistic understanding of the challenge ahead but also with optimism. The build-up through the Kochi camp, supported by specialized coaching and sports psychology, aims to prepare players both mentally and technically for the rigors of international competition.
As basketball continues its gradual rise in India’s university and college circuits, participation in global tournaments like the FISU Games not only offers athletes a chance to showcase their talent but also strengthens the foundation of the sport nationwide.
Fans and supporters will be keenly watching as the teams take to the court in Germany starting July 16, hopeful that this new generation can script memorable performances on one of the biggest stages in university sport.
