India to host FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters event

Hyderabad is set to host India's first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters tournament, with the two-day event scheduled to begin on September 22, organisers announced on Tuesday.

The Hyderabad Masters will be the seventh stop on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour and marks the first time that an international 3x3 basketball tournament of this level will be held in India.

The competition will give participating teams an opportunity to qualify for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Bloomage Beijing Final, scheduled for October 27-28.

Several leading international teams, including Novi Sad, Piran and Belgrade, are expected to compete in Hyderabad. International players such as Simon Finzgar, Anze Srebovt and Gasper Ovnik will also be part of the tournament, giving Indian players an opportunity to test themselves against established international competition.

India will be represented by teams from Delhi and Bengaluru. Their qualification was determined by their performances during the inaugural season of the 3x3 Basketball League (3BL), which was held from June 9 to August 26 across six Indian cities.

Yoshiya Katoh, Chairman of 3BL, said hosting the World Tour represented a major opportunity for Indian basketball.

"India is getting a chance like never before -- to host the FIBA 3x3 World Tour. Only nine other cities in the world have been the hosts in this edition. This is an opportunity for Indian basketball players to compete against the strongest opponents and improve their game," Katoh said.

The Hyderabad event was expected to provide a significant boost to the development of 3x3 basketball in India, a faster-paced format that has gained international popularity because of its short matches, smaller teams and compact playing area.

For Indian players, the tournament also offered valuable exposure to international competition and an opportunity to measure their skills against some of the world's leading 3x3 teams.