Four U14 BLK Talents Head to Taiwan on a Fully Funded Training & International Exposure Program
Basketball League Kerala launches BLK Global Passport, creating overseas pathways and opportunities for outstanding players.
Kochi, July 8, 2026: Basketball League Kerala (BLK) has marked another significant milestone in its vision of creating international pathways for young basketball talent with the launch of BLK Global Passport. The initiative transforms outstanding performances in BLK into global learning and exposure opportunities.
Four promising U14 players who distinguished themselves during BLK Season 1 departed from Kochi on July 7 to participate in a fully funded one-month High Performance Training and International Exposure Program in Taiwan, followed by international match exposure opportunities.
The pioneering initiative has been organised by Starting Five Sports Management Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with Chung Hua Girls Junior High School and Chuangwei Boys Junior High School, both located in Yilan County, Taiwan, along with Ekalavyas Consultancy. This marks the first international player development program to emerge directly from BLK Season 1.
The Selected Players
Neha Vinish – Trivandrum Capitals (accompanied by her mother)
Arz Shaji – Thrissur Tuskers (accompanied by his mother)
Devarsh Vinod – Calicut Warriors (accompanied by his elder brother)
Alena Alphonsa – Trivandrum Capitals (accompanied by her mother)
The scholarship covers the complete cost of the program, including international travel, accommodation, training, local logistics, and exposure games, making it a unique opportunity for these young athletes and their families.
The players will undergo intensive basketball training under experienced Taiwanese coaches, interact with other young players, experience a different basketball culture, and participate in competitive tournaments.
Beyond basketball, the program is designed to broaden their perspectives through cultural exchange, discipline, and international learning experiences.
Anil Kumar, Mentor and Co-Founder of Starting Five Sports Management, said:
“BLK was never conceived as just another basketball league. Our vision has always been to build meaningful pathways for young players. BLK Global Passport is the first major outcome of that vision. We want every young player in Kerala to know that outstanding performances on the court can create opportunities beyond borders. This is just the beginning of many such international pathways.”
The initiative follows closely on the successful conduct of BLK Elevate 2026, where representatives from Adelaide Lightning of Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), including Tess Madgen and Mohan Koo, engaged with Kerala’s basketball ecosystem to explore long-term collaborations for player development, coach education, and women’s basketball.
Backed by KBA
The Kerala Basketball Association (KBA) has extended its support to the BLK Global Passport initiative, recognizing it as a landmark step in providing young basketball players from Kerala with a structured international pathway at an early stage of their development.
Starting Five Sports Management expressed its gratitude to Chung Hua Girls Junior High School, Chuangwei Boys Junior High School, and Ekalavyas Consultancy for their support in making this fully funded program possible.
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