These basketball players from India are making a mark
India's history in sports is a long celebrated narrative that can run over centuries. The nation, be it man or woman, has put India on the world map with representations and wins in various fields of sports. Even the most western sports are becoming a part of the Indian sports culture. Even the rugged game of basketball has seeped into the sporting culture, with more and more Indians taking up the sport of basketball. And over the years, many Indians have played in international basketball championships as well as international teams. Let us take a look at a few of the famous basketball players from India making a mark across the globe.
Prashanti Singh
One of India's most celebrated basketball players, Prashanti Singh is one of the top four A-grade players of India. Having started her basketball career in 2002, Singh soon became the captain leading the team to various wins. Under her captaincy, the Indian national women's basketball team won a silver medal at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games held in 2009. In 2011 Prashanti Singh won a Gold Medal in South Asian Beach Games. The team's shooting guard, she represented the national team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 16th Asian Games in 2010, and at the 17th Asian Games in 2014.
Akilan Pari
The 32-year-old basketball player is a rare talent for the Indian Basketball team with just 5 ft 10 inch high. However, he went to captain the team in 2018, playing at the point guard position. Pari has also captained Tamil Nadu's official state lineups and currently plays for the Punjab Steelers of India's UBA Pro Basketball League. In 2013, Pari was selected in the Sprite Uncontainable Game of the NBA All-Star Weekend, where he was coached by NBA superstars like LeBron James, Omri Casspi, and Serge Ibaka. In the present moment, Pari is considered to be one of the best ball handlers and passers in the country.
Anitha Pauldurai
A consistent player of the Indian Basketball team, Pauldurai has served as the captain of the Indian Women's Basketball team for 18 years. She is the first and only Indian woman to have continuously played nine Asian Basketball Confederation championships and has a record of 30 medals in national championships.
A few other Indian basketball players making headlines are Khushi Ram, Satnam Singh, Amjyot Singh, Ajmer Singh, Geethu Anna Jose, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, Amritpal Singh, and Sat Prakash Yadav, among various other sports stars.
