Manraj Singh Sandhu, a 17-year-old UYBA player from Bathinda, Punjab, makes history in Malta
New Delhi, Sept 20: Indian basketball has witnessed a significant milestone as 17-year-old Manraj Singh Sandhu from Bathinda, Punjab, becomes the first 17-year-old Indian to play professional basketball in Europe, taking the court in a professional basketball league in Malta. Coming from a small town in Punjab, Manraj’s journey is a remarkable example of a young Indian basketball player pursuing his ambitions on the international stage.
Manraj is a UYBA player, and his international journey began with the UYBA Serbia Camp. As a young player, he travelled to Serbia to gain international exposure, experience the European basketball environment and challenge himself against a higher level of competition.
The Serbia Camp became an important step in his development, giving him valuable experience of the European basketball system and helping him take the next step in his career. His journey eventually led to an opportunity to continue playing basketball in Malta. At just 17 years old, Manraj is now competing in a professional basketball environment in Europe — a milestone that marks a significant moment in his young career.
For UYBA, Manraj’s journey represents the organisation’s vision of creating real international pathways for Indian basketball talent. UYBA’s objective goes beyond camps and training. The organisation aims to provide young Indian players with opportunities to experience international basketball, compete against different levels of opposition, understand the global basketball ecosystem and pursue opportunities to take their careers abroad.
“This is exactly why we started UYBA — to create real pathways and opportunities for Indian players. Manraj’s journey is a very proud moment for all of us. He comes from Bathinda, Punjab, and his international journey started with our Serbia Camp. Today, at just 17 years old, he has reached professional basketball in Europe. This is what we want UYBA to stand for — creating opportunities and opening doors for Indian basketball talent.”
— Ulhas K.S., Founder & President, UYBA Manraj’s journey from Bathinda to Serbia and now Malta highlights what can be possible for young Indian basketball players when talent is combined with hard work, determination and access to international opportunities. His achievement is not only a personal milestone but also an important moment for UYBA and its mission to create international pathways for the next generation of Indian basketball players.
At 17, Manraj Singh Sandhu has taken a historic step into professional basketball in Europe. And for UYBA, this is just the beginning.