Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (born 13 November 1991) is an Indian professional basketball player who is the captain of the Indian National Basketball Team, and most recently, a player with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL). Bhriguvanshi was awarded the Arjuna Award by the government of India for the year 2020.[1]
 Bhriguvanshi with ONGC in India in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 – India | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 November 1991 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Indian | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 98 kg (216 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | UP College, Varanasi | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2011: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2009–present | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Young Cagers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2011 | North Western Railway Jaipur | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | ONGC Uttarakhand Dehradoon | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | T-Rex Basketball Club | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Bengaluru Beast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Bhriguvanshi also has a biography by Nirupma Baghley, titled Vishesh: Code To Win, about him being India’s youngest captain.
Early life
editBhriguvanshi was born in Uttar Pradesh. His father was a lecturer and his mother was a principal in a Government College.[2]
His career began with participation in the Varanasi U-13 district meet.[3] At the age of 17, Bhriguvanshi was recruited to the Senior Indian men's team.[2]
Professional career
editBhriguvanshi began playing competitive basketball in 2009 at the Asian Club Championships. In 2017, Bhriguvanshi averaged 30.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 11 games for Bengaluru Beast in the United Basketball Alliance of India Pro Basketball League. In one match against rival Hyderabad, he poured in 57 points and registered 11 assists.[4][5]
On 7 July 2017, Bhriguvanshi signed a one-year training deal with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League, becoming the league's first Indian player.[6][7] He did not appear in a game for the 36ers during the 2017–18 NBL season.[citation needed]
He is the first Indian to be signed by Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) in 2017.[8][9]
National team career
editBhriguvanshi made his debut for the India national basketball team in 2009 at the FIBA Asia Championship. He has since competed at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, 2014 FIBA Asia Cup, 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, and 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge. At the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge in Iran, Bhriguvanshi averaged a career-best 16.9 points per game, to go with 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals in eight games.[10][11]
Championship
editBhriguvanshi helped India win a 3x3 basketball Gold Medal at the Asian Beach Games in 2008 and has since played in every major FIBA Asia Championship.
He has won three domestic national championships with Indian Railways and, in 2011, was appointed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation as its Brand ambassador.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Biography of India's youngest Basketball captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi to hit stands soon". Deccan Herald. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ a b Dadala Rao, Adarsh (30 January 2017). "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi: The Special One". NBA.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "India needs a basketball league, says national team captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi". The Indian Express. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Turner, Matt (7 July 2017). "Adelaide 36ers sign Bengaluru Beast Vishesh Bhriguvanshi – the NBL's first Indian player". AdelaideNow.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi first Indian basketball player to sign with Australia's NBL - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "36ERS SIGN NBL'S FIRST INDIAN PLAYER". Adelaide36ers.com. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Alter, Jamie (7 July 2017). "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi first Indian basketball player to sign with Australia's NBL". IndiaTimes.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "India needs a basketball league, says national team captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi". The Indian Express. 5 July 2020.
- ^ "India needs a basketball league, says national team captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi | More sports News - Times of India". The Times of India.
- ^ "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Men's basketball captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi calls for professional league to improve sport in India". Firstpost. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Madhok, Karan. "Basketball star Vishesh Bhriguvanshi is the most decorated Indian athlete that you haven't heard of". Scroll.in.