TJBL 2026 finals: Warangal Stallions, Vikarabad Mambas and Nizam Royals shine
HYDERABAD: The first Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL), a 10-day tournament and India’s first franchise-based junior basketball league, ended Sunday night at Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.
The event brought together top young basketball talent from Telangana. The games were close, the crowds cheered loudly, and several players stood out with strong performances. The tournament set a new standard for junior basketball in India.
Moving to the finals,The Day 10 finals saw four teams win their categories. In Under-18 Boys, Warangal Stallions beat Vikarabad Mambas 79-77. For Under-15 Girls, Vikarabad Mambas defeated Warangal Stallions 63-52. In Under-18 Girls, Nizam Royals won 73-66 against Nalgonda Speed Strikers. Vikarabad Mambas also won the Under-15 Boys final, beating Nalgonda Speed Strikers 101-69. Runners-up included Warangal Stallions (U-15 Girls), Nalgonda Speed Strikers (U-15 Boys and U-18 Girls), and Vikarabad Mambas (U-18 Boys).
Individual performances stood out, too. Several players delivered standout performances in the finals. Krish of Vikarabad Mambas scored 72 points in the Under-15 Boys final, one of the highest in the tournament’s history. Shreetej from Warangal Stallions led his team to the Under-18 Boys title with 29 points. Geetha of Vikarabad Mambas scored 30 points in the Under-15 Girls final. Bhavan from Nizam Royals added 25 points to help win the Under-18 Girls final.
These strong performances showed the depth of young talent in Telangana. The TJBL helped nurture future basketball stars. K. Shiva Sena Reddy, Chairman of the Sports Authority of Telangana, served as Chief Guest for the awards ceremony. Other TBA officials joined him to present trophies and medals to the winners and runners-up.
Shiva Sena Reddy encouraged players to dream big and aim for national and international medals. He said, “Bring glory to Telangana through sports. If you show talent and dedication, the government will support you.”
Reflecting on the league’s impact, Ravula Sridhar Reddy, President of TBA, called TJBL a milestone for the association. “TJBL is the first junior franchise-based basketball league in India. We want to find young talent, give them a professional platform, and help them become future champions. The strong response from players and supporters shows we are on the right path,” he said. He thanked the organizing committee, volunteers, coaches, franchise owners, sponsors, and supporters for their hard work.
Highlighting local success stories, Reddy pointed out that three players from Telangana, Viha Reddy, Jonnalagadda Nethra B, and Saanvi K, now play for India internationally. “Their achievements inspire every young player in TJBL and show the potential in Telangana,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prudhvishwar Reddy, TBA’s General Secretary, thanked players and parents for their support. He said, “Our goal is to produce players who can win for Telangana and India. TJBL is just the start. We plan to add more leagues, competitions, and development programs to grow basketball in the state.”
At the end of the tournament, four players won Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards: Aaradhya (U-15 Girls), Krish (U-15 Boys), Bhavana (U-18 Girls), and Aadvik (U-18 Boys). TJBL’s successful completion marks a new era for basketball in Telangana. The league gives young players a clear path to grow and makes Telangana a key center for the sport in India.
