LUCKNOW, Nov. 1 -- In recent years, Uttar Pradesh has earned an extraordinary reputation in the domestic circuit, chalking up a string of impressive basketball tournament performances and producing a roster of standout players. Uttar Pradesh won gold at the 49th Sub-Junior Boys' National Basketball Championship, defeating Delhi 56-49 in a tense final held in Hyderabad in December 2024 where the team remained undefeated registering win over Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan in quarterfinals and then Tamil Nadu in semi-final. In February 2024, Uttar Pradesh won the gold medal for the second consecutive year at the 73rd Junior National Basketball Championship in Bhubaneswar, overwhelming Rajasthan 106-67 in the final. They maintained a dominant run during the tournament and the momentum continued in September 2025 as Uttar Pradesh bagged another gold-this time at the National Basketball Championship in Bhubaneswar-highlighted by the achievements of players like Ayush Negi and Ansh Solanki. The journey didn't stop here as Uttar Pradesh cagers also claimed the gold medal at the 3X3 U-23 National Basketball Championship held in Kochi, defeating Kerala in the finals, showcasing versatility across traditional and newer basketball formats. And their golden streak has lasted till October 2025 with triumph at the 50th Sub Junior National Basketball Championship held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, reinforcing UP's status as a consistent force at the junior and sub-junior levels. Players like Jatin Sharma, Vansh Sharma, Ayush Negi and Ansh Solanki in sub-juniors and Kushal Singh, Muhammed Kaif, and Dev Premi etc in the junior category came up with standout performances for the state teams. Vishesh Bhriguvanshi has been the most decorated Indian basketballer from Uttar Pradesh in recent times, serving as both captain and playmaker for the state and national teams. His technical skill and leadership have provided inspiration for younger players and cemented his status as a contemporary legend. "It didn't happen overnight. It is a result of players' consistent performance and an organised set-up for the game by the Uttar Pradesh Basketball Association in the last few years. We have been consistent performers in the domestic circuit, and now everyone's hard work is reflecting with a series of victories," UPBA's vice-president RS Bedi said on Friday. Bedi, a former India player, also said that Uttar Pradesh girls too have been doing well and teams both in sub-junior and juniors have made it to the top-10 in the country. "Talents like Shivani Gupta, Pratibha Singh, and Shruti Yadav, who have represented UP at recent U-16 nationals, are regarded as future stars. We have got an exclusive basketball academy in the name of Suparsh Awasthi in Lucknow and we are confident that our girls too would soon be making the podium finishes," added Bedi, also a national selector. He, however, said that positive results in recent years have enhanced Uttar Pradesh's reputation as a top-tier basketball state. "The combination of systematic player development, consistent junior and sub-junior results, and a rich talent pool, especially from cities like Varanasi and Meerut, has created a strong foundation for sustained success in Indian basketball," he added. Bedi also said ever since the state government has restarted recruiting basketball players in jobs, especially in Uttar Pradesh Police, things for basketball have changed dramatically in the state as now players see an opportunity to continue playing for Uttar Pradesh. "Even in the past, we had some very good players, but there were no jobs for them and so they left, but now everybody wants to stay in UP and play for their own state," he further said. He, however, said that the Singh sisters of Varanasi are the biggest source of inspiration for Uttar Pradesh basketballers. These sisters-Divya, Prashanti, Akanksha and Pratima-have all represented India and Uttar Pradesh in basketball and have significantly contributed to putting Varanasi on the basketball map of India. They have overcome society norms to become prominent figures in Indian women's basketball, with some having captained the national team and received prestigious awards like the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri (for Prashanti Singh). "Their journey has inspired many and they remain active in promoting basketball across the country. They honed their skills at the basketball facilities at Uday Pratap College in Varanasi, where coaching from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), especially under coach Amarjeet Singh, helped develop their skills and temporarily made Varanasi the basketball capital of India."...