"Proud moment for Indian basketball": BFI Secretary General Gill ahead of FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, August 5
Basketball Federation of India Secretary General Kulvinder Singh Gill said hosting the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad is a proud moment for Indian basketball, with the tournament returning to India after 22 years.
He stressed that world-class infrastructure, recent success in regional competitions and talent development initiatives will help boost the sport, while a professional league planned for 2027 could provide players with stronger career opportunities.
The much-awaited FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 is set to be held in Ahmedabad, India, from August 13 to 23.
"It is certainly a very prestigious and proud moment for us, as we are hosting this championship after 22 years. The new stadiums built in Ahmedabad are truly world-class...this will certainly benefit Indian basketball immensely, as well as the state of Gujarat...a total of 16 teams are participating, including the defending champion, Australia, and the runner-up, New Zealand. The Indian team reached the quarter-finals (top 8) in the last Asian-Oceania Championship, and as hosts, we have been preparing for this for quite some time," Gill told ANI.
"We also won the recent South Asian Championship, so we should certainly have a home-court advantage and are expecting a better performance than last time...we are currently witnessing Indian athletes winning significantly more medals at the Commonwealth Games compared to the past. The Prime Minister and the Union Sports Minister are paying close attention to every detail regarding how India can excel in future Commonwealth Games and the Olympics... The Basketball Federation of India has established several academic centres; through talent scouting, we are providing new players with free boarding and lodging at quality schools. Furthermore, we are set to launch a professional league very soon, early in 2027. Consequently, players, both current ones and those aspiring to join the sport, will certainly be inclined to pursue basketball as a viable career," he added.
Sixteen teams divided into groups of 4 will compete in the biennial competition's 28th edition, beginning with the busy Group Phase that will run for a total of 6 days from August 13-18, featuring 4 games a day.
The top teams in each group by the end of the preliminary stage will book a direct ticket to the Quarter-Finals. Teams finishing 2nd and 3rd in their pools, meanwhile, will play in the Qualification to the Quarter-Finals.
The play-in to the Final Phase's opening round is scheduled on August 20. The Quarter-Finals will then be played the following day, the winners of which will advance to the Semi-Finals set on August 22.
Aside from moving on, the 4 teams reaching the penultimate stage will qualify for the prestigious FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2027 that will be held in Pardubice, Czechia on June 26 to July 4, 2027.
Classification Rounds 5-8 will also be held for this year's U18 meet, beginning on August 22 as well - just before the Semi-Finals. Losing teams in the Quarter-Finals will make up the cast in a bid to salvage some pride.
The one-game Final is set on August 23, which will be preceded by the Classification 5-6, Classification 7-8, and the Third-Place Games as the tournament is set to be action-packed all the way to the end.
Australia are coming in as the defending FIBA U18 Asia Cup champions after ruling the 2024 games in Jordan.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is great to see! Basketball has been growing steadily in India, especially in rural areas where kids are now getting proper coaching. The free boarding and lodging at quality schools through talent scouting is a wonderful initiative. Hopefully the 2027 professional league will keep our players from moving abroad for opportunities. 🙌
Good to see sports getting attention beyond cricket. But I hope the BFI focuses on grassroots development too, not just hosting tournaments. We need more courts in small towns and better coaches at the district level. Hosting events is one thing, but sustaining the growth of the sport is another. Let's hope the 2027 league is well-planned and not just a one-off thing.
As someone from Gujarat, I'm so excited about this! The Narendra Modi Stadium complex and the new sports infrastructure in Ahmedabad are truly world-class. This will be a great opportunity for local kids to watch top-level basketball live and get inspired. Hopefully we'll see more Gujarat players in the national team in the coming years! 🏀
The point about India's improved performance at the Commonwealth Games is valid. The government's focus on sports science and training is paying off. But let's be honest - basketball still has a long way to go in India. We need to compete regularly with top Asian teams, not just in our region. Playing Australia and New Zealand in the group stage will be a real test. Let's see how the boys handle the pressure!
This is wonderful news! Basketball is becoming really popular among young Indians, especially in schools and colleges.
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