Telangana Junior Basketball League Launched in Yousufguda With 3,000 Registrations
The inaugural edition of the Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL) was formally launched by Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Telangana Government, at the Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy Indoor Stadium in Yousufguda, Hyderabad, on Friday, 19 June 2026. Designed to strengthen grassroots basketball development, the tournament features Under-15 and Under-18 categories for both boys and girls and has already attracted nearly 3,000 registrations from young athletes across the state.
The launch event was attended by several key officials of the Telangana Basketball Association (TBA), including President Sridhar Reddy, General Secretary A Prudhvishwar Reddy, Treasurer N Chandra Shekhar, and TBA Chairman Masood Bin Ahmad Zakir. During the inauguration, Ranjan officially unveiled the league's championship trophy and spent time interacting with team franchise owners and players.
Speaking at the launch, Ranjan remarked that the sports ecosystem in India is fully gearing up, with Telangana athletes regularly finding places in national and international teams. He commended the TBA for conceptualising the junior league to foster local talent.
TBA President Sridhar Reddy noted that the association is more vibrant than ever and is becoming widely known for pioneering local leagues. General Secretary Prudhvishwar Reddy elaborated on the long-term vision of the tournament, stating that the objective of the TJBL is to nurture talent from the grassroots level, provide access to quality coaching and professional infrastructure, and create a sustainable ecosystem for basketball to thrive in Telangana. He added that the association aims to identify promising young players and provide them with a clear pathway to excel at state, national, and international levels.
The inaugural season of the league comprises six city-based franchises: Hyderabad Hurricanes, Nizam Royals, Warangal Stallions, Nalgonda Speed Strikers, Rangareddy Raptors, and Vikarabad Mambas.
The business side of the league saw significant activity during a franchise auction held in April. The auction generated a total franchise valuation of Rs 1.48 crore, setting a new benchmark for junior sports leagues in the state. The Hyderabad Hurricanes franchise drew the highest bid of the auction, acquired by the Prospero Group for Rs 33 lakh.
