Latest news with #Palpreet
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
From Muktsar to leading Indian basketball team — Palpreet Singh Brar's journey of grit
Chandigarh: When a tall teenager from a farmer's family in Muktsar was told he was too tall for kabaddi, he had no idea that advice would one day make him the captain of the Indian basketball team. Today, at 32, Palpreet Singh Brar is leading the national team, a dream that took roots in the courts of Ludhiana and was tested on the toughest roads of Indian sport. Back in 2009, basketball wasn't even on Palpreet's mind. A towering 6'9", his height made him a perfect candidate for basketball. A family friend nudged him towards the sport, and soon the teenager left his town for Ludhiana. There, at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, under the mentorship of Teja Singh Dhaliwal and coach S Subramaniam, Palpreet discovered the game that would become his calling. "I had no role models. I didn't even know the rules," he recalls, adding "But it just came to me naturally." From donning the junior team jersey in 2011 to earning a spot in the senior national team a year later, Palpreet's rise was steady. Yet, it was not without setbacks. In 2016, when he had been drafted into the NBA D-League, a moment of pride, a knee injury almost derailed his journey. "There was no support from the govt, not even to fund my surgery," he says, with a tinge of disappointment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Two years of recovery followed. But his passion for the sport never waned. He fought his way back into the national team. Today, as captain, Palpreet carries not just the expectations of his teammates but also the weight of an entire sporting ecosystem that's long struggled for relevance and recognition. "Captaincy is more than leading on the court," he says. "It's about lifting others when they're down, pushing them forward when they doubt themselves." Despite the challenges, he finds comfort in his discipline. Employed by the Indian Railways, Palpreet gets 330 days a year to train. Off the court, he continues to stay connected to his roots, helping out on his family farm. Palpreet is vocal about the structural gaps in Indian basketball. "We're 50 years behind," he says bluntly. "There are no professional leagues, no exposure trips, no regular practice games. Look at Serbia, with a population smaller than ours, they are ranked No. 2 in the world by FIBA." He believes the problem isn't infrastructure but the lack of quality coaching. "We need to invest in good coaches. Our kids have potential, but potential needs to be guided." Language barriers, too, pose a challenge in his role. "We have players from across the country, and often we don't speak the same language. But I've learned to communicate in other ways." For Palpreet Singh Brar, the Indian jersey is not just a uniform, it's a dream he wants to live each day. And now, as captain, he's determined to script a new chapter in Indian basketball's story. "There are no shortcuts," he says with conviction. "Hard work is the only way. To the younger generation, I say, focus on the basics. The results will show." As he prepares to lead India into the next Asia Cup, he says with a smile, "I've come a long way from not knowing what basketball was. And now, I want to help build a future where every talented kid, from any village or city, has a real shot, not just at playing, but at dreaming." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 5 SCD Government College alumni, including skipper Palpreet Singh, in Indian basketball squad
Palpreet Singh, a 32-year-old alumnus of SCD Government College, Ludhiana, is captaining the Indian basketball team at the ongoing FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia. The tournament, showcasing Asia's basketball talent, commenced on August 5 and will conclude on August 17. Palpreet Singh (HT Photo) Palpreet's journey began at the age of 13 when he joined the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA) at Guru Nanak Stadium. Though he briefly quit just after three months, he returned to the court in 2010. Later, he completed his Bachelor of Arts from SCD College in 2015. Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of Punjab Basketball Association, recalled Palpreet's early days. 'He hails from Doda village in Muktsar Sahib and was trained under coach S Subramaniam at LBA. He is the fourth LBA player to captain the national team — a proud achievement for Punjab basketball.' Palpreet made headlines in 2016 when he was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA D-League tryouts by the Long Island Nets, becoming only the second Indian after Satnam Singh Bhamra — also an LBA alumnus — to reach that milestone. Currently employed with Indian Railways, he has represented India internationally for over 15 years, featuring in three Asia Cups, an Asian Games, and tournaments in Japan, the USA, and Canada. Speaking from Saudi Arabia ahead of India's upcoming clash against the host nation on Saturday, Palpreet said, 'It has been an incredible journey. I have given everything to this game.' Remarkably, four of Palpreet's teammates — Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, Kanwar Gurbaz Singh, Arvinder Singh Kahlon, and Princepal Singh Bajwa — are also alumni of SCD College and LBA. Their college coach, Amarpreet Kaur, expressed pride in their achievements: 'They trained relentlessly, often beyond college hours. Their dedication has taken them to the international stage.' India has played two matches so far — a narrow 91-84 loss to Jordan and a 100-69 defeat to China. Sahaij Sekhon was India's top scorer against China, putting up 14 points. The team now eyes a crucial win in their upcoming group-stage matches.
Time of India
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Palpreet Singh Brar from Bathinda village joins elite group of Punjabi captains in sports
Bathinda: Palpreet Singh Brar, a towering 6'10'' athlete from Doda village in Punjab's Bathinda district, has been named captain of the Indian basketball team, joining a distinguished group of Punjabi athletes who have recently captained national squads. The list includes Shubman Gill from Fazilka (Indian Test cricket team), Harmanpreet Kaur from Moga (India women's national cricket team) and Harmanpreet Singh from Amritsar (India hockey team). Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from Chamkaur Sahib was the captain of India's national football team until the recent past. He was first named captain in a friendly match against Puerto Rico in Sept 2016. Palpreet Singh, 31, was the second Indian, after Satnam Singh Bhamra, to be drafted into the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). He was picked by the Long Island Nets on Oct 31, 2016, at the age of 21. "His journey into basketball began in 2010 when, as a 16-year-old with a tall physique, he saw an advertisement for the Punjab Basketball Academy. He was selected and honed his skills under the guidance of basketball coach S Subramaniam and Teja Singh Dhaliwal, then the Punjab Basketball Association secretary. He made his debut for the Indian team at the Incheon Asian Games in 2014, said Palpreet's father Pharjinder Singh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Are Unstoppable: The Most Beautiful and Talented Female Athletes Undo He further said that Palpreet's height is a family trait. Pharjinder himself stands at 6'2", while Palpreet's younger brother is 6'3", his sister is 5'10", and his mother is 5'8". Palpreet, who now works as a deputy chief inspector of trains in the railways, once credited Satnam Singh Bhamra with opening doors for Indian players in the NBA. He stated that Satnam's drafting turned out to be a turning point for Indian cagers, as it increased interest in Indian talent among international scouts. MSID:: 123164327 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
