IB3L International Elite Cup Concludes in Siliguri; Team Nepal Crowned Champions
SILIGURI, WEST BENGAL — The IB3L International Elite Cup 2026 concluded successfully in Siliguri, West Bengal, marking a major milestone for Indian 3×3 basketball. Widely regarded as one of India’s biggest 3×3 basketball tournaments in recent years, the event brought together top teams from across the country and neighboring nations, with Team Nepal emerging as the champions.
Hosted at the premium facility of Kaga Basketball Academy, the tournament created a professional international-level platform for emerging basketball talent and showcased the rapid rise of 3×3 basketball in India and South Asia.
The IB3L International Elite Cup served as an entry-level gateway into the international FIBA 3×3 circuit, where the winning team earned an opportunity to compete in the prestigious Mongolia Challenger, providing valuable global exposure to players from the region.
Nationwide Qualifiers Across India
The road to the IB3L International Elite Cup began with qualification tournaments organized in five major Indian cities:
- New Delhi
- Jaipur
- Ranchi
- Mumbai
- Siliguri
Each qualifier witnessed participation from a minimum of 24 teams, making the competition highly competitive at every stage. Only one team from each city advanced to the national championship event held in Siliguri.
The tournament stood out for creating equal opportunities for teams from different regions to compete on an international-standard 3×3 basketball platform, something rarely seen in Indian basketball in recent years.
Team Nepal Lifts the Championship Trophy
After days of high-intensity basketball action, Team Nepal delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament and eventually lifted the championship trophy of the IB3L International Elite Cup 2026.
Their victory not only earned them recognition on the international stage but also secured a pathway toward higher-level FIBA 3×3 competitions.
Basketball enthusiasts and sports organizers praised the level of competition, professionalism, and international exposure provided by the event.
Govinda Sharma’s Vision for Indian Basketball
The man behind the tournament, Govinda Sharma, is a former India No. 1 basketball player who achieved the top national ranking multiple times during his career. Sharma has been actively promoting 3×3 basketball since 2017 with the vision of building a stronger basketball ecosystem in India.
Through initiatives like IB3L, he aims to create more opportunities for players to compete professionally and gain international exposure.
Speaking about the success of the event, Govinda Sharma said:
“By organizing tournaments like the IB3L International Elite Cup, we can identify and develop more basketball talent across the country. 3×3 basketball is growing rapidly worldwide, and with proper exposure and opportunities, India can improve its chances of qualifying for the Olympics in the future.”
A New Chapter for Indian 3×3 Basketball
With growing participation and increasing international interest, the IB3L International Elite Cup is being viewed as a major step toward the development of Indian 3×3 basketball.
The successful execution of the tournament in Siliguri highlighted the city’s growing importance in Indian basketball while also establishing IB3L as one of the country’s leading platforms for competitive 3×3 basketball.
Organizers believe that tournaments like IB3L will continue to help discover new talent and strengthen India’s presence in the global 3×3 basketball movement.
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