Pistol Group crowned champions at Red Bull Half Court 2024 India Finals, earn spot in World Finals

Pistol Group will represent India at Half Court World Finals in New York.

Basketball enthusiasts were treated to an action-packed evening as the Red Bull Half Court 2024 India Finals unfolded at the iconic Elante Mall in Chandigarh. Eight teams, who earned their place in the India Finals after qualifiers in Ludhiana and Chandigarh, battled it out as Pistol Group came out on top, beating Diphu Nihang Red 21-18 in the grand finale.

Pistol Group, one of the four teams that qualified from Ludhiana, comprised of up and coming talents in Arvinder Singh (22), Karandeep Singh (21), Nawaz Singh Panaich (21) and Kanwar Gurbaz Singh (24). The quartet, who grew up together at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, put on dazzling displays in front of a large crowd at the Red Bull Half Court 2024 India Finals, sealing top spot in their group before beating Diphu Nihang in the semifinals.

The team from Ludhiana set up a finale clash against Diphu Nihang Red in the finale and went on to win what was a neck-to-neck encounter that finished 21-18 in favour of Pistol Group.

After suffering the disappointment of losing the India Finals by a single point in 2022, it was redemption for the young stars of Pistol Group who finally got their hands on the coveted trophy. However, it’s not just the trophy that the team from Ludhiana will be honored with. Having clinched the Red Bull Half Court 2024 India Finals, Pistol Group will now represent India at the Red Bull Half Court 2024 World Finals in Brooklyn, New York City later this year in October 2024. 

Kanwar Gurbaz Singh, member of Pistol Group, said:“This is a moment we’ve been waiting for and preparing for since the last time we played in this tournament and unfortunately lost in the Finals. Today, we’re very happy and proud of what we have achieved. It’s a matter of pride for us that Pistol Group will represent India at the world stage. We will go to New York with the aim of giving the best account of basketballers from Punjab and India and of course, to win Half Court.”

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Nawaz Singh Panaich, member of Pistol Group, said:“Basketball is growing in India. Now is the time for us to show what basketballers in India can do not just in our own country but internationally too. Platforms and tournaments like Half Court are important for the sport to grow and become more popular and we want to thank Red Bull for giving us this wonderful experience.”

Red Bull Half Court is the world’s most widely recognized 3×3 basketball tournament with the 2024 edition tipping off in 29 countries with over 20,000 participants making it the most global streetball tournament on the planet.

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