Milestones in Indian Basketball (2015 Update!)

It's India's 69th Independence Day today, it's the day where we celebrate the anniversary of when that the fruits of the labours of our founding fathers - Gandhi, Nehru, Bose, Bhagat Singh, Azad, and so many more - came to realization. It's the day that India began its tryst with destiny.

Since 'Hoopistani' is the self-proclaimed holy-scripture of Indian Basketball, it is a must that this blog should celebrate Indian Independence Day in a special manner, too. Earlier this week, the Hoopdarshan podcast - hosted by myself and Kaushik Lakshman - released a special Independence Day episode, where we gave listeners a lesson in Indian basketball history, capturing its greatest moments and highest achievers. We also spoke to India's former Women's NT captain Prashanti Singh. The podcast was a retelling of an article I wrote on this blog over five years ago, listing the greatest milestones and individual award winners in Indian basketball.

Since then, history has come closer to fans of Indian hoops, with steady development in the sport racking up new milestones at an accelerating level. With the most current state of the game in mind, here is the 2015 update. Of course, with 85 years of hoops history in the country, not every major moment can be captured. These are the highest of the highlights; feel free to suggest any other major milestones that should be considered in the comments section below.

• circa 1930: This is when many people believe that basketball was first introduced in India, through the YMCA organizations. It's believed that Kapurthala in Punjab is where they first played the game.
  
• 1934: The first Indian National Championship for men is held in New Delhi.
  
• 1936: The Indian National Team (The Young Cagers) become a member of FIBA.
  
• 1950: The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is formed.
  
• 1951: New Delhi hosts first-ever Asian games. India Men finishes fourth (out of five) in basketball tournament. Philippines wins.
  
• 1965: India appeared for its first International Basketball Championship in 1965. The India Captain, Khushi Ram was the second best scorer in the tournament
  
• 1975: The Men's National team finished fourth in the FIBA Asia Championship in Bangkok, the highest finish for India in the men's division.
  
• 1980: The Men's National team participated in the Moscow Olympics but finished last in the tournament.
  
• 1981: The FIBA Asia Championship was held in Calcutta, India finished fifth.
  
• 1982: New Delhi hosts Asian Games again, India Men finished 8th of 13, women 5 of 5.
  
• 2008: NBA begins to send operations officers and former stars to India to increase activity in the country.
  
• 2009: The FIBA Asia Championship for Women was held in Chennai, India finished 6th.
  
  
• 2010: BFI signs sponsorship deal with IMG Reliance, Satnam Singh sent to IMG Academy.
  
• 2011: Geethu Anna Jose tries out for Los Angeles Sparks, San Antonio Silver Stars, Chicago Sky.
  
• 2011: Former NBA coach Kenny Natt named head coach of India.
  
• 2011: NBA opens office in Mumbai.
  
• 2013: India Women win gold at 1st ever FIBA Asia 3x3 championship.
  
• 2013: India-born Vivek Ranadive becomes owner of an NBA team, Sacramento Kings.
  
• 2014: India's Men's team won gold Medal at Lusofonia Games in Goa.
  
• 2014: India's Men's team beat China at the FIBA Asia Cup in. Wuhan.
  
• 2015: Satnam Singh becomes first Indian drafted to the NBA (by the Dallas Mavericks).
  

Arjuna Award winners

• 1961: Sarabjit Singh
  
• 1967: Khushi Ram
  
• 1968: Gurdial Singh
  
• 1969: Hav. Hari Dutt
  
• 1970: Gulam Abbas Moontasir
  
• 1971: Man Mohan Singh
  
• 1973: SK Kataria
  
• 1974: AK Punj
  
• 1975: Hanuman Singh
  
• 1977-78: T. Vijayaragavan
  
• 1979-80: Om Prakash
  
• 1982: Ajmer Singh
  
• 1991: Radhey Shyam
  
• 1991: Suman Sharma
  
• 1999: Sajjan Singh Cheema
  
• 2001: Parminder Singh
  
• 2003: Satya (Sports)
  
• 2014: Geethu Anna Jose
  

Dhyan Chand Award winners

• 2002: Aparna Ghosh
  
• 2003: Ram Kumar
  

Indian basketball has come a long way from the time the first ball was bounced somewhere in the middle of Punjab to the same state producing India's first NBA draftee, 85 years later. Through the years, we have seen 17 players and two coaches receive Arjuna and Dhyan Chand honours respectively, played basketball in the Summer Olympics, hosted several major international basketball competitions, and shocked heavyweights China in a legendary victory. Despite its growth, the sport still feels like it is in its infancy in India; considering India's massive population and growing economic status of the middle class, we have sold much short of our true potential.

Hopefully, the future will be much brighter than the past. The Indian basketball family will be looking forward to a major professional basketball league, more young players following Satnam's footsteps into the NBA, and further international success by our national teams. For the present, however, let's celebrate our favourite sport in our favourite country and go out to shoot some hoops!

Hoopdarshan Episode 14: Independence Day special with Prashanti Singh!‏

68 years ago, India won Independence from the British Empire, and in 2015, we are still thankful for the nation's most glorious day. Feeling a whiff of patriotism, the Indian basketball podcast Hoopdarshan - hosted by Kaushik Lakshman and Karan Madhok - bring you our Independence Day special episode. Join us as we recount and discuss the greatest milestones in Indian basketball history, from the first ball bounced in Kapurthala to the first Indian drafted into the NBA. We finish the episode with a special interview with former Women's NT captain Prashanti Singh on her biggest moments in a Team India jersey, the struggle for women in the sport, and getting marriage proposals from random fans.

Part 1 of Episode 14 will be a history lesson in Indian basketball, from 1930 to the present day, recounting great moments like the formation of India's basketball federation, our first (and only) Olympics Basketball appearance, beating China in Wuhan last year, and recalling some of the game's greatest players.

In Part 2, we chat with Prashanti Singh as if we were sipping chai on the steps of the ghats of her hometown, Varanasi. Prashanti is from the illustrious 'Singh Sisters' who have dominated Indian and Delhi basketball in recent years. She has played in several key international and domestic tournaments for India and continues to be one of the most popular players in the country.



Hoopdarshan aims to be the true voice of Indian basketball, and since we're such hopeless fans of the game, it will become the voice of everything basketball related we love, from the NBA to international hoops, too. On every episode of Hoopdarshan, we will be inviting a special guest to interview or chat to about a variety of topics. With expert insight from some of the brightest and most-involved people in the world of Indian basketball, we hope to bring this conversation to a many more interested fans, players, and followers of the game.

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