Punjab Retains Basketball Title at 37th National Games After 12-Year Gap

In a thrilling showdown at the 37th edition of the National Games in Goa, the Punjab men's basketball team showcased their dominance by clinching the gold medal in the five-a-side category. This victory marks a significant achievement for Punjab, as they had last claimed the National Games title in 2011 during the Jharkhand National Games, ending a 12-year drought.

In a nail-biting final, Punjab outperformed the defending champions, Tamil Nadu, with a scoreline of 105-103, securing their fourth gold medal in the history of the National Games. Punjab had previously claimed the top spot in 1997 and 2001, showcasing their prowess in the sport over the years.

The road to this victory was not without its challenges for the Punjab men's team. In the previous edition of the National Games held in Gujarat in the year prior, they had suffered a setback, losing to Tamil Nadu. Furthermore, in the 35th edition of the Games hosted in Kerala in 2015, Punjab's men's team missed the podium for the first time since 1987. 

This remarkable achievement is part of an exceptional year for the Punjab men's basketball team in the national circuit. They had previously clinched the national championship title in January, further solidifying their reputation as a formidable force in Indian basketball.

The Punjab men's team is predominantly composed of players from the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA) and the Punjab Police. Out of the 12 members, six hail from LBA, four represent the state police force, and two comes from Jalandhar. 

5x5 Punjab team

Amritpal Singh, Amjyot singh, Teninderpal Singh, Gurvinder Singh (all from Punjab Police), Akash Sharma and Arshpreet Singh Bhullar (both from Jalandhar), Kanwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu,  Sehaj Partap Singh Sekhon, Manjot singh, Princepal Singh,  Karandeep Singh, Gurvinder Singh (all from  Ludhiana Basketball Academy).

Rajinder singh - coach

Gurkirpal singh - coach

Parmnider singh Heer - Manager