Team 911 win Red Bull Half Court 2026 National Finals in Chandigarh, seal India berth for world finals

Team 911 emerged victorious at the Red Bull Half Court 2026 National Finals with a 14-12 win against John Deere in the final. Jashandeep Singh, Ujjwal, Eknoor Singh and Manveer Dhaliwal made up the 911 squad, and they will now represent India in the World Finals in Manila, Philippines, in December 2026.The final capped an action-packed evening in Chandigarh, where eight of the country’s best street basketball teams battled for the national crown. Team 911, made up of Jashandeep Singh, Ujjwal Eknoor Singh and Manvir Dhaliwal, held their nerve in a close contest to lift the title.Punjab was at the heart of this year’s tournament, reflecting the region’s strong basketball culture. Two qualifying rounds were held in Ludhiana and Chandigarh, with 32 teams participating at each venue. From the 64 teams in the qualifiers, only the top eight advanced to the national finals. The quality was evident, with all 32 finalists having represented their states and half of them also featuring at national-level competitions.“Representing India at the World Finals in Manila after winning the national finals in Chandigarh feels unreal. It’s a proud moment not just for Team 911, but for everyone who has supported us through the journey,” said Manvir. “We’ve worked hard for this and now we carry the responsibility of representing our country on a global stage.”The tournament venue itself became a talking point, with the newly redesigned court in Sector 17 offering a visual tribute to Chandigarh’s street basketball culture. Built around the “Own the Court” philosophy, the bold pop-art layout combined the city’s geometric design identity with the pace and flair of 3x3 basketball.The artwork was created by Doodle Mapuls, founded by Amal Nair, Yash Shetty and Kirthi Pillai. Amal led the design concept, while Yash oversaw on-ground execution and jersey design.“The newly painted court by Red Bull in Chandigarh is honestly amazing for the basketball community. It’s more than just a court — it creates energy, inspiration, and a space where players can come together and grow the game,” Manvir added.The event also attracted attention from the newly launched India Basketball League, which sent coaches PS Santosh and Daniel Tihomir Vlahov to scout talent.Selected players from the tournament will receive an opportunity to train within the IBL ecosystem, including access to elite coaching, high-performance systems and competitive scrimmages alongside established professionals.Interestingly, all members of the 2024 winning team are currently training at the High Performance Centre in Bengaluru, which also serves as the training base for the Indian national basketball team — further underlining how the competition is becoming a pathway for emerging talent.