Reviving Basketball in Ludhiana: A Wake-Up Call for Indian Basketball

Ludhiana has long been one of the heartlands of Indian basketball, producing players who have gone on to represent Punjab and the country. Yet today, the very courts where young talent should be nurtured lie in neglect.

The public courts under the Lakkar Bridge and at the Southern Bypass near BRS Nagar / Sarabha Nagar are in a dismal state — broken posts, missing nets, cracked surfaces, and garbage strewn across what should be safe playing spaces. These are not just eyesores; they are barriers to ambition.

For the hundreds of children who come with dreams of representing their state and country, such conditions are soul-crushing. Parents speak of their children carrying their own basketballs because none are available. Youngsters recount cleaning the courts themselves before they can even begin training. One 15-year-old summed it up poignantly: “I want to play for Punjab and maybe India one day, but it feels like nobody cares about basketball here.”

This is not merely a Ludhiana problem. Across India, we have failed to treat sports infrastructure as essential public goods. While cricket enjoys dedicated stadiums and corporate backing, sports like basketball, which thrive in schools and communities, are left to decay. This disparity denies opportunities to thousands of young athletes, especially those who cannot afford private facilities.

The solution, however, does not require grand budgets or world-class arenas. What is needed is intent and accountability. Three simple steps can set things right: repair and clean up existing courts, assign dedicated teams for routine maintenance, and engage local schools and clubs in community partnership models. These interventions are low-cost but high-impact, and they send a strong message — that every child’s sporting dream matters.

Ludhiana’s case should be a wake-up call. If we are serious about building a sporting culture in India, grassroots facilities must be treated as non-negotiable. Basketball is one of the fastest-growing urban sports in the country. Investing in it now means investing in healthier lifestyles, stronger communities, and a wider talent pool for India’s future teams.

The courts in Ludhiana can either remain symbols of neglect or become models of revival. The choice lies with us.