Mahindra NBA Challenge to tip off in Ludhiana for 3rd time

NBA India Press Release: The Mahindra NBA Challenge, the largest, multi-city, community-based basketball league in India, is tipping off in Ludhiana (Punjab) on July 28 for the third time in the city. Conducted in collaboration with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and Punjab Basketball Association, the program will run for seven weeks culminating on September 9.

This year the Mahindra NBA Challenge will feature a new player development programme in each city called Generation adidas. Forty up and coming players from the boys and girls U13 and U16 divisions will be selected to participate in two exclusive Generation adidas clinics during the season in Ludhiana on August 24 and September 6. The top eight players will be selected from the clinics and will receive one year of specialized training and adidas basketball gear.

The Ludhiana league will feature 112 teams and games will be played at Guru Nanak Stadium. For it's third season, the Mahindra NBA Challenge has already been held in Mumbai, Delhi, and following the on-going Kochi and Ludhiana stop, will be held in Bangalore. The five-city league features eight divisions total for males and females: sub-junior for ages 12 to 13, youth for ages 14 to 16, junior for ages 16 to 18 and adults ages 19 and over.

For the first time this year, the Mahindra NBA Challenge will feature a National Championship which will take place in Delhi from October 4-7, 2012. The winning teams from the Senior and U18 divisions, for both Men and Women, in each city will travel to Delhi to compete for the championship and train with an NBA Legend.

The programme has rapidly expanded since its introduction in 2009 with the number of teams participating doubling in the second season. The programme has helped to identify and develop top basketball talent, with the Indian National Team extending training camp invites to 20 male and female players that participated in the Mahindra NBA Challenge.

Mahindra NBA Challenge to tip off in Kochi for first time ever

NBA India Press Release: The Mahindra NBA Challenge, the largest, multi-city, community-based basketball league in India, is tipping off in Kochi (Kerala) for the first time ever on July 21. Conducted in collaboration with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), the Kerala Basketball Association, Regional Sports Center Kochi and Ernakulum District Basketball Association, the programme will run for seven weeks culminating on September 2.

This year the Mahindra NBA Challenge will feature a new player development programme in each city called Generation adidas. 40 up-and-coming players from the boys and girls U13 and U16 divisions will be selected to participate in two exclusive Generation adidas clinics during the season in Kochi on August 17th and 30th. The top 8 players will be selected from the clinics and will receive one year of specialized training and adidas basketball gear.

This marks the NBA’s first programme in Kochi, showcasing the league’s commitment to growing basketball across the country. The Kochi League will feature 120 teams and games will be played at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The programme has already been held in Mumbai and Delhi this season, and following the Kochi stop, will be held in Bangalore and Ludhiana. The five-city league features eight divisions total for males and females: sub-junior for ages 12 to 13, youth for ages 14 to16, junior for ages 16 to 19 and adults ages 19 and over.

For the first time, the Mahindra NBA Challenge will feature a National Championship which will take place in Delhi on October 4-7, 2012. The winning teams from the Senior and Under 18 divisions, for both Men and Women, in each city will travel to Delhi to compete for the championship and train with an NBA Legend!

The Mahindra NBA Challange programme has rapidly expanded since its introduction in 2009 with the number of teams participating doubling in season two. The programme has helped to identify and develop top basketball talent, with the Indian National Team extending training camp invites to 20 male and female players that participated in the Mahindra NBA Challenge.

Mahindra NBA Challenge Hosts the First-Ever Generation adidas Players Programme

NBA-India Press Release: The Mahindra NBA Challenge hosted the first-ever Generation adidas Players Programme clinic as part of the ongoing third season’s activities at Modern School in New Delhi on April 15th.

The Delhi leg of the Mahindra NBA Challenge featured a new player development programme called Generation adidas Players. As part of the programme, 40 up and coming players from the boys and girls U 13 and U 16 divisions were selected to participate in two exclusive Generation adidas clinics during the season in Delhi.

The top eight players selected from the clinics will receive one year of specialised training and adidas basketball gear. Generation adidas will launch in each subsequent city with a goal of identifying and nurturing the next generation of basketball talent across the country.

"The NBA and adidas share a long-term commitment to grow basketball globally and are encouraged by the tremendous amount of untapped potential we see in India," said NBA India Senior Director of Development Akash Jain. “The first-ever Generation adidas Players programme is an important initiative to help identify and nurture young basketball talent in India.”

The first clinic conducted will be followed by a second that will be held towards the end of the season. Clinics will be conducted in combine style wherein the participants will be put through various physical and basketball tests.

Troy Justice, Sr. Director, Basketball Operations, NBA India, along with other local officials in each city will identify and select ‘up and coming’ talent. The programme will be monitored every month to ensure quality coaching for the players selected.

3rd season of Mahindra NBA Challenge launches in Delhi with Player Development Programme

The third season of the Mahindra NBA Challenge – the largest, multi-city, community-based basketball league in India – tipped off its New Delhi leg on March 16. Delhi is one of five cities where the league will be held this season, organised by the NBA, Mahindra, and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

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