20 players to represent India at Jr. NBA Global C'ship

The NBA on Monday announced the names of 10 boys and 10 girls who will represent India at the second Jr. NBA Global Championship, a youth basketball tournament for the top 13- and 14-year-old boys and girls teams from around the world that will be held between August 6 and 11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

The 20 youth players were chosen following a two-day selection camp at the NBA Academy India in Delhi NCR. The camp featured 40 13- and 14-year-olds from the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Skills Challenges, City Competitions and National Finals.

The boys' team includes Sachin Yadav (Delhi), Dev Premi (Mumbai), Arnav Gupta (Bengaluru), Pranav Varma (Hyderabad), Karan Pashi (Kolkata), Janmejay Singh (Chandigarh), Md. Kaif (Varanasi), Harsh Dagar (Delhi NCR) and Lokendra (Delhi NCR).

The girls' team includes Riccha Ravi (Mumbai), Moumita Mishra (Bengaluru), Jeevika Kumar (Chennai), Manmeet Kaur (Punjab), Irin Elsa John (Kerala), Osheen Singh (Jabalpur), Bhumika Sarje (Pune), Dhara Phate (Nagpur) and Shomira Bidaye (Nagpur)

In the inaugural event last year, Sunishka Kartik from the India girls team won the Community Award while Bhavik Garg won the Tip-Off Ceremony Dance Contest. Sachin Yadav and Moumita Mishra will both return for their second appearance in the annual youth basketball tournament.

The championship will feature boys and girls divisions, separated into U.S. and international brackets that begin with round-robin play and continue with single-elimination competition.

The winners of the U.S. and international brackets will play in the global championship games on August 11.

--IANS

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