Vishesh Bhriguvanshi

Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (born 13 November 1991) is an Indian professional basketball team captain who was most recently a training player with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL) and was awarded Arjuna by Govt. of India for the year 2020[1]

Vishesh Bhriguvanshi
Bhriguvanshi with ONGC in India in 2015
Personal information
Born (1991-11-13) 13 November 1991
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
NationalityIndian
Listed height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Career information
NBA draft2011 / Undrafted
Playing career2009–present
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
Number9
Career history
2009Young Cagers
2008–2011North Western Railway Jaipur
2012–2016ONGC Uttarakhand Dehradoon
2016T-Rex Basketball Club
2017Bengaluru Beast
Medals
Representing  India
Lusofonia Games
2014 IndiaTeam

Early life

Bhriguvanshi was born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh. As a 12-year-old, Bhriguvanshi would follow his brother, Vibhor, to the basketball courts of Udai Pratap College in Varanasi every evening. Within weeks, he competed in the Varanasi U-13 district meet, and soon developed a liking towards the sport.[2] Within a year of playing basketball, Bhriguvanshi represented his district and state in 2000. He kept developing exponentially and six years later, at age 17, bagged himself a spot on the Senior Indian men's team.[3] Growing up with a father who was a lecturer and a mother who was a principal, there was pressure on Bhriguvanshi to perform academically. However, Bhriguvanshi had other things in mind.[3]

Professional career

Bhriguvanshi 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.

He is the first Indian to be signed by Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) in 2017.[8][9]

National team career

Bhriguvanshi 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

Vishesh has helped India to win a 3x3 basketball gold medal at the Asian Beach Games in 2008 and has since been playing in every major FIBA Asia Championship and representing India.

He has won three national champions domestically with Indian Railways and, in 2011, was appointed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation as its Brand ambassador.[12]

References
  1. "Biography of India's youngest Basketball captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi to hit stands soon". Deccan Herald. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  2. "India needs a basketball league, says national team captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi". The Indian Express. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. Dadala Rao, Adarsh (30 January 2017). "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi: The Special One". NBA.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi first Indian basketball player to sign with Australia's NBL - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  6. "36ERS SIGN NBL'S FIRST INDIAN PLAYER". Adelaide36ers.com. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  7. Alter, Jamie (7 July 2017). "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi first Indian basketball player to sign with Australia's NBL". IndiaTimes.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  8. "India needs a basketball league, says national team captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi". The Indian Express. 5 July 2020.
  9. "India needs a basketball league, says national team captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi | More sports News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  10. "Vishesh Bhriguvanshi". FIBA.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  11. "Men's basketball captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi calls for professional league to improve sport in India - Sports News , Firstpost". Firstpost. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  12. Madhok, Karan. "Basketball star Vishesh Bhriguvanshi is the most decorated Indian athlete that you haven't heard of". Scroll.in.
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