A slam dunk for 3X3 basketball: How Govinda Sharma is dribbling for the FIBA sport

(January 31, 2022) Unlike India’s favourite sport cricket, basketball is still languishing in the shadows. While Indians like Princepal Singh and Sim Bhullar have made it to the NBA in the US, and created a buzz, the sport is still finding its place among the other more revered sister sports. One lively young man is trying to change this. Govinda Sharma who ranks #1 in FIBA 3X3 and is in the top 2,000 in the world, according to FIBA.

The talented basketball player has taken it upon himself to make the sport a household name. Sharma, 26, is already one of the leading names in Indian basketball. That in itself is an achievement. He has worked as a coach at the NBA Basketball School, is the first Indian to be a FIBA 3X3 certified professional, trying hard to make this three-a-side game popular. Global Indian speaks to Govinda Sharma about his journey, and how he is helping popularise the FIBA 3X3 game in the country.

The days when basketball was just an idea

Born in Punjab, Govinda travelled around India as his father Kamal Sharma was in the Border Security Force (BSF) and his mother Geeta is a homemaker. His father’s job meant frequent transfers and relocations. Although, a keen athlete, basketball was not his first love. He donned boxing gloves, and dreamt of becoming an international level pugilist. But that was not to be. Contact sport was a big no-no at home. “My parents were against boxing as I would come home with bruises and injuries on my face,” he laughs.

He slowly discovered basketball when he saw his father’s colleagues playing the game. He was taken in by the skill, stamina and speed. “I loved the way the BSF boys played. I started developing an interest, and realised that I had a bit of talent too,” says Sharma. Mohit Vasisht, the BSF team coach was instrumental in shaping Govinda’s career at just 14 when the basketball bug bit him. A few years on, Sharma joined the Sports Authority of India team in Jammu and Kashmir.

He pursued the sport, but not how he would have ideally liked to – he had to continue studying, thus basketball took a back-seat.

Chasing his dream again

The Punjab University student did his BA in business management, and another BA in physical education. As opportunities came his way, he worked in different companies like Track, Byjus and Indospirit. He even worked as a guest service officer at the ceremonial lounge of Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2014.

But leaving basketball behind rankled him. He finally called it quits and followed his passion. “I just wanted to play basketball,” Govinda says.

That took the bright-eyed boy to Singapore in 2017 for training. It made a world of difference. “I was trained by professional coaches and used the latest equipment to brush-up my game and gain strength. The best memory is when a local club – CBL, (Community Basketball League) asked me to play in the basketball league. I have learned a lot over there. I also witnessed the ASEAN Basketball League in Singapore,” recalls the sportsman.

Back in India, Govinda saw what the US National Basketball Association (NBA) was doing in India to promote the game at the grassroot level – Jr NBA programme, NBA Basketball School, NBA Academy, Basketball Without Borders, etc.

“Even the Basketball Federation of India has announced a professional league in India. Many state associations have started their own leagues like Rajasthan Basketball League, Mizoram Super League and others. It’s good to see Indian players participating in the NBA draft in the US too. That is an indication of the talent and the sport gaining popularity in India,” adds the sportsman, who founded an NGO – Sab Khelo Sports Foundation (now closed) where he taught wheelchair basketball players and the underprivileged to promote the sport he loves.

Taking basketball to a different level

Rather than taking the regular basketball route, Govinda has chosen the 3X3 version to take the game to various corners of the country. He was also an ambassador for the Indian government’s Fit India Movement, where he spread the word about fitness across the country. “I promote healthy lifestyles, fitness and motivate the youth towards fitness with workout videos. I ask basketballers to send workout videos to correct mistakes, and do zoom sessions to clear doubts,” says Govinda, who does these free of cost.

As the first Indian to be FIBA 3X3 certified player in 2017, he has been driving the sport ever since. “FIBA 3X3 basketball is a variation of basketball with three-a-side, with one backboard, and played in a half-court set-up,” he explains.

According to an ESSEC Business School study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee, 3X3 is the largest urban team sport in the world. In fact, in 2017, it was included in the Olympics. Is it gaining popularity in India? “Yes, it’s gaining popularity in India because of the style, and format of the game,” replies Govinda. Further, he explains, “Players who participate in FIBA 3X3 get ranking from FIBA and they can play at the international level too.”

Govinda Sharma is now a full-fledged coach and he has his own sports academy called KAGA Basketball Academy in 2021 – in Delhi, Noida, and Siliguri. “We aim to promote basketball in the northeast. We also offers hostel facilities,” he says. Darjeeling is also set to have an academy soon. Incidentally, KAGA is named after his parents – KA from Kamal and GA from Geeta.

Govinda says that his dream is to see more Indians taking to 3-a-side basketball, and India figuring in the Olympics. “There is no reason why India cannot produce a team of international standards as we have very talented basketball players in the country,” he says, hoping to lead this 3X3 revolution.

• Follow Govinda Sharma on LinkedIn

Indians that made a mark in National Basketball Association (US)

The National Basketball Association or NBA is one of the four major sports leagues in the United States and Canada. Many Indian origin players have made their mark in this popular world sport. Here are a few…

• Satnam Singh: The 25-year-old was the first-ever Indian to be drafted into the NBA after the Dallas Mavericks picked him in the 2015 draft.

• Sim Bhullar: Sim Bhullar is revered in the sport as the first-ever player of Indian origin to score a point in the NBA. He was signed by the Sacramento Kings on a 10-day contract in 2015.

• Sachin Gupta: As the first Indian origin person to be an NBA executive, Gupta was appointed as the interim president of basketball operations of Minnesota Timberwolves in 2021.

• Princepal Singh: Princepal Singh scripted history in 2021 as the first Indian in the NBA championship-winning roster. The 20-year-old won the title with Sacramento Kings.