3BL Helps Elevate Indian Men 3x3 Basketball Ranking to 15th in the World
3BL Helps Elevate Indian Men 3x3 Basketball Ranking to 15th in the World
Indian men 3x3 basketball rankings have shown a spectacular jump from 70th to 15th, helped by the recently concluded third season of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and International Basketball Federation (FIBA) backed 3x3 Pro Basketball League (3BL). 3BL Season 3 was held in Hotel Wyndham Chandigarh Mohali from 8th to 21st March 2022 and saw participation from leading national and international men’s and women’s 3x3 Basketball players.
This is the highest-ranking for any Indian basketball team in history, whether in 3x3 or 5x5, men or women, junior age groups or senior level
Top Indian men’s and women’s team stars from across the country including Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (Arjuna Awardee and captain of the men’s national team), Anitha Pauldurai (Padma Shri), Geethu Anna Rahul (Arjuna Awardee), Raspreet Sidhu, Amritpal Singh, Palpreet Singh (ex-NBA player), Princepal Singh (ex-NBA player) and Stephy Nixon, to name just a few, were seen in action across 18 total franchises (12 men’s and 6 women’s).
A post-season press conference was held yesterday at Taj Mahal hotel, conducted by 3BL Commissioner Mr. Rohit Bakshiand Mrs. Prerna Sharma, Director of YKBK Enterprise Pvt Ltd., which owns the ‘3BL’ intellectual property. Also in attendance were the two 3BL Season 3 champion teams Gurugram Masters (men) and Delhi Divas (women), besides other foreign players. Mr. Vikas Bansal and Mr. Rajeev Tiwari, the owners of Gurugram Masters franchise, which is the reigning champion in the men’s league, were present as well.
Indian men 3x3 team ranked #2 in Asia
Indian Men 3x3 'Federation' Ranking as of 28 March 2022
“Prior to the start of 3BL Season 3, we had promised that the Indian men 3x3 team’s global FIBA 3x3 federation ranking would be around 30th. We are pleased to confirm that India men 3x3 team now has ranked of 16thin the World, ahead of Asian powerhouses like China, Iran and Philippines and even Australia, which competes in the Asian circuit,” Mrs. Prerna Sharma said at the time of the press conference.
However, as per the latest FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking for Men as of 28th March, the Indian Men 3x3 listing is actually at 15th in the world.
“I would like to congratulate India’s men’s basketball players, because besides being among the top 20 in the world, our men’s 3x3 ranking is also second-best across the whole of Asia, behind only Mongolia,” Mr. Rohit Bakshi said. “We need to maintain men and women’s FIBA 3x3 World ranking and improve to be under 4th in the world rankings by the 31st October 2023 to ensure both our men and women’s teams qualify to the 2024 Paris Olympics.”
Indian Basketball’s Paris Olympic Dreams inching closer to Reality
Going by the qualification criteria at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, only 8 teams per gender compete at the 3x3 event in the Olympics. The top four ranked teams (as per the FIBA 3x3 Federations’ Ranking) get direct entry, while the next 16 ranked teams play in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
In other words, as per today’s FIBA 3x3 men’s rankings, the Indian men 3x3 team would be eligible to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, by virtue of being the #15 ranked team in the World.
Top 3BL Men’s teams rewarded with cash prize and further international participation
In the men’s section Gurugram Masters was crowned champions, Ahmedabad Wingers were the runners up and Mumbai Heroes were placed third.
The winning men’s team was awarded INR 35 lakh, runners up won INR 25 lakh and the third placed team receivedINR 15 lakh.
“We are happy that our team Gurugram Masters could repeat as champions,” said Mr Rajeev Tiwari, co-owner of Gurugram Masters franchise.
“The competition is getting tougher and tougher. We will continue to dominate the league and win the World Tour Final 2022 to be the best team in the world.” said Mr. Vikas Bansal, co-owner of Gurugram Masters.
Additionally, 3BL Season 3’s champion team Gurugram Masters will be participating in the prestigious FIBA 3x3 ‘World Tour’ event in Philippines and a FIBA 3x3 ‘Challenger’ event in Mongolia. Meanwhile, runners up Ahmedabad Wingers will be competing in the first ever ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) 3x3 Cup in Bali, Indonesia.
The ABL 3x3 Cup will be held on 16-17 April, and the FIBA 3x3 World Tour event in Philippines will take place in Manila on 28-29 May. The dates of the ‘Challenger’ event in Mongolia hasn’t yet been decided, but the venue has been confirmed as its capital city of Ulaanbaatar.