In November 2024, India hosted Qatar and Kazakhstan in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers at Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai. Before tip-off, the crowd rose as one for the national anthem of both countries. Players queued up on the court, and the head coach, assistant coaches, and support staff lined up on the sidelines.
India was coached by Scott Flemming, making one of the most impactful comebacks in Indian basketball. To his right, three assistant coaches stood tall, almost looking ready to enter the court as players themselves. Coaches GRL Prasad, Sambhaji Kadam, and Joginder Singh had all played for the Indian Services basketball team, and the Indian national basketball team, bringing with them experience and the gravitas of representing the Indian flag on and off the court.
The Indian Services Team is managed by the Services Sports Control Board, the official sports body of the Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Having assistant coaches from this background gives the team a unique perspective and direction.
"We always gave our best effort, trying to instill the idea of ‘dying for the country’ on the court, doing whatever it takes for the betterment of the team in any small way we can." - Coach Prasad. For him, the mindset to give it all for the country was ingrained in the armed forces. But his childhood had already served to cultivate a strong work ethic that helped pave his playing and coaching career.
"I was used to working hard from a young age. I grew up in Tenali, Hyderabad. Our family had a small tiffin center. I would wake up at 4 a.m. to get ready and help my dad with the work. My mom would prepare the batter at home, and we would take the prepared items to the hotel. I would help my dad until 8:30 a.m., bringing water from the well, doing chores. He would be waiting with a stick if I didn't. I never played sports until the 10th standard," recalls Coach Prasad.
"When I was in the 11th standard, I had a growth spurt. Seeing that, my cousin encouraged me to try volleyball. I started playing and learning the sport from the seniors. Around that time, the Center of Excellence scheme came up in the Sports Authority of India. Our club secretary informed me that I was the only one who had qualified from our group. I was 6'4" tall by then."
"My dad wasn't aware of sports as a career, I really had to fight for this opportunity with him. My mom supported me, and I went on a hunger strike of sorts to convince him. My dad finally agreed and let me go. My brother came with me to Bengaluru to join the SAI center. The coach was also from Tenali; he and his wife took good care of us. We would go to their house, eat, and talk about family. They were like godparents to me."
"When I started playing volleyball, my coach asked me what I wanted to do—get a job or join the army as a sportsman. I trusted his judgment, 'Whatever you say, sir.' He took me to the army center where Colonel Kailash Chauhan said they needed tall players, and I got an opportunity to join. That's how I joined the army as a volleyball player."
"I played volleyball for a year when I was 20 years old under Mr. Shyam Sunder Rao, who was an Arjuna awardee and Dronacharya awardee. I was in a five-year program at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, but destiny had other plans. In 1992, the services team from Delhi came to Bengaluru for the national championships and stayed at our army center. Suresh Chandra Mali, one of the best shooters in India at that time, was their captain. I went to the movies with them, and during the interval, they heard I was a volleyball player with a good vertical leap who didn't like volleyball much."
"The next day, he came to my office and asked for me. They wanted me to join the basketball team. I told them I was already a volleyball player, trying to become an officer. The brigadier told me this was a great opportunity. He said, 'Try for two years. If you become a national player, continue. If not, go back to your normal duties.' He wrote a letter to get me started, and I got posted at the Delhi HQ, I never looked back. I started in March 1993, worked like a machine, practicing for so many hours alone, running on the roads, and training morning and evening. I played my first nationals in 1995."
"I'm grateful to all those who helped me get on and stay on the path that led me to where I am today."
"I played with superstars like Phool Singh as my teammate. Practicing together, playing in the post, he would hit and beat me inside, but I had to play against him and guard him. I got so many cuts on my face, but never left my position. I was like a pest, always troubling him. I started going outside and receiving the ball, and making plays. That's how I started playing one-on-one and shooting from the outside. To contribute, I started playing as a point forward, center, and guard."
"Our team would have me guard their main scorer. I was just doing what was best for the team—running for fast breaks, getting rebounds, and helping on defense. Later, the team looked to me to feed him from the high post. That's when I understood my potential and contribution. After six or seven years, I was selected as a player for the Indian basketball team in 2001."
Coach Prasad completed a Diploma in Sports Coaching from NIS, Patiala in 2005-06, and subsequently also became a FIBA Level 2 certified coach. He coached the ASC (Army Service Corps) team between 2006-2021 and the Indian Army team between 2010-2019, winning multiple championships and guiding many players to represent Army and Services teams. He became an assistant coach of the Indian team from 2013-2014 under Coach Scott Flemming.
"Coach Scott is very positive-minded; he really brings the best out of his players. When he first took charge, it was only a matter of time before we saw results. I was his assistant coach, and it took about a year to get good wins. Initially, we struggled, but we hit a turning point at the Lusofonia Games in 2014 in Goa. We beat Angola twice in front of our home crowd. It was a huge confidence booster, and we started believing we could take on anybody. Later, we went to the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan and beat China."
Coach Prasad was also the head coach for the Indian basketball team at the 2015 SABA Championship and more following tournaments. "That's when the team was also very good, with all the players at their peak. Coach Scott’s handling, mentoring, and guidance helped with the transition for the players, and we had good backup."
India played two games in Chennai in the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. These two games saw a record attendance in Indian basketball with over 13,000 fans combined. As the FIBA Photographer for these games, I got to experience the action from the sidelines, baseline, and from up in the rafters.
"We need this kind of atmosphere and support for basketball in India to grow. Players will raise their level by seeing the crowd's support. Just like cricket and the Olympics get recognition, basketball is picking up."
"We control what we can control. We will always benefit from more exposure games. Playing vs Qatar, for the first two quarters, we were able to play equally, not just because of conditioning. We couldn't match their physicality in the second half. It's not just about the good shots we missed. We might have struggled with finishing the game, but this kind of atmosphere and support will instill confidence and energy in the team and boost morale. It's not easy to play against a team like that."
"Our players are doing very well. Under the right guidance, they're not afraid of anyone. The coach's mentality is to give players confidence, get the best out of them, and create a system where everyone is an equal part. It's about instilling confidence and letting them play with a free mind."
"We should look to be more player-centric. We should have posters of our Indian players in the stadium. If our players become heroes for the game and for the next generation, everyone will be more inspired. It's all about motivating them and bringing out the best in them."
India is scheduled to host Saudi Arabia in Chennai on 30th November 2025 in the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. India is grouped with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Lebanon in Group D. Come cheer for the team at Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai.
"In team meetings, we sit in a circle to bond and understand what players are thinking. We try to bring out their other side. We talk about our own experiences, how we became players, how we train, and how we got better from scratch, all through hard work and a fearless attitude. It's about being down to earth but never afraid of taking on big players. We stay motivated and fired up. We used to chase for all 40 minutes against super teams; we never let our guard down. We never stopped hustling and giving effort. That ruggedness and resilience are the main things we tell them."
"It's not just about fundamentals but about being fired up and giving your best. We never think of personal achievements, but of being disciplined and well-coordinated. Our defense and effort will always be there, but we have to always fine-tune our decision-making and fundamentals."
"The players keep adding things we're figuring out, not just set plays or defense, but figuring out awareness—how quickly you figure out what's happening around you. Players like Muin Bek are always calm and never panic. He's been playing for so many years. You can see it in our youngsters like Sahaij Sekhon, Harsh Dagar, and more. Their vision and awareness will improve by continuously having more playing experience."
"We will benefit from more competitive games, like our trip to Dubai for exhibition games and from having a basketball league. More rigorous training and dedication from the players are needed. They need to fine-tune things, keep working on conditioning and fundamentals, and then we can add more advanced corrections. They're understanding the system and believing in it. We have a good group of players now. We’ll see a great show in the upcoming games and the National Basketball Championship."
Along with being the Assistant Coach of the Indian basketball team, Coach Prasad is also the Technical Director at Lakshyan Academy of Sports, bringing his experience and energy to the service of the game and creating hardwood warriors. You can follow him and explore training at Lakshyan Academy of Sports in the link below.
