Vadodara emerged as a basketball powerhouse at the state-level Sports Mahakumbh 3.0 tournament held in Patan, clinching championship titles in all four categories: boys and girls under-14 and under-17. The city’s remarkable performance highlighted the strength of its youth basketball training programs and the dedication of its players and coaches.
In the under-14 boys’ final, Vadodara’s team defeated Ahmedabad, securing the title with players like Shiven Trilokani, Maan Trilokani, Arin Patel, Ayush Patel, and Sherwin Gamit playing key roles under the guidance of coach Krunal Parmar and manager Nirav Rathwa. The under-14 girls’ team triumphed over Anand with Ashi Patel, Hani Patel, Dishi Patel, and Tanya Sharma leading the charge, coached by Hasmukh Makwana.
The under-17 girls’ team claimed victory against Rajkot, featuring standout players Karvi Desai, Nitya Agrawal, and Jhalak Mehta, coached by Sunil Parmar. In the under-17 boys’ final, Vadodara once again overcame Ahmedabad, with Dishant Shah, Sahaj Patel, Harsh Patel, and Sarfaraz Syed delivering crucial performances. The team was coached by Dr. Pawan Rai, with Arjun Makwana serving as assistant coach.
The collective efforts of these teams brought Vadodara a total cash prize of Rs. 2.4 lakh, while coaches were awarded Rs. 36,000 in recognition of their contributions. The award ceremony saw the presence of notable dignitaries including Dinesh Kadam, Secretary of Gujarat Sports Authority; Dr. Arjun Singh Makwana, Sports Director of BRG Group; and Nehal Ramani, Secretary of Baroda District Basketball Association.
According to Dr. Arjun Singh Makwana, the presence of high-quality basketball courts and experienced coaching staff in Vadodara schools has been instrumental in developing skilled players. He emphasized that these facilities are not only nurturing talent at the state level but are also helping athletes make a mark at the national stage.
