Indian basketball player Govinda Sharma has said that India can realistically aim for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in 3x3 basketball if sustained investment in the format begins now, while conceding that qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games remains an uphill task. His remarks came on the sidelines of the launch of 3x3 Quest India 2026 in New Delhi on 18 August 2026.

Sharma's Assessment of India's Olympic Chances

'5x5 has a proper roadmap, but if you look at its history, it is difficult. 3x3 is a new sport, and it is new for everyone. India has better chances in this. If we push from now, maybe not the 2028 Olympics, but we can play the 2032 edition,' Sharma said. The former India No. 1 in 3x3, who has competed extensively in the format over the last five to six years, currently holds the No. 2 ranking in India and has shifted focus to coaching.

His optimism is grounded in the format's relatively level global playing field. Unlike 5x5 basketball — where established powerhouses have dominated for decades — 3x3 made its Olympic debut only at the Tokyo 2020 Games and returned at Paris 2024, giving newer nations a genuine window to compete.

How Olympic Qualification Works in 3x3

For the LA28 Games, the field expands to 12 teams per gender. Five Olympic places per gender will be allocated through the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking, with the remaining six spots decided via four Olympic qualifying tournaments. The ranking window spans 24 months, making consistent participation in sanctioned events critical for any nation with Olympic ambitions.

'In 3x3, you have to travel to different countries and play qualifiers. As you keep winning, you keep moving ahead,' Sharma said, underscoring the importance of sustained international exposure over short bursts of domestic activity.

3x3 Quest India 2026: A Stepping Stone

The 3x3 Quest India 2026, a FIBA-sanctioned competition supported by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), FIBA, and the Delhi Basketball Association, is scheduled for 12 and 13 September at DLF Promenade – Emporio, New Delhi. The winning team earns a berth at the FIBA 3x3 World Series in Mongolia, along with official FIBA ranking points.

'The team that wins this 3x3 Quest event will go on to play the World Series in Mongolia. This will give India points, and the ranking will also go up. These are the kind of tournaments we need if we want to improve our chances,' Sharma said.

The Format and Its Appeal for Indian Basketball

Unlike traditional 5x5 basketball, 3x3 is played on a half-court with three players per team, a 12-second shot clock, and games lasting 10 minutes or ending when a team reaches 21 points. Sharma argued the format also opens a clearer pathway for young Indian players, allowing them to progress from school level through district and national competitions to international leagues.

'Basketball may not be very popular, but it is played everywhere in India,' he noted, pointing to the sport's grassroots reach as an underutilised asset. With the ranking system rewarding consistent international participation, Sharma believes events like 3x3 Quest India 2026 are precisely the infrastructure India needs to build toward a credible Olympic campaign by 2032.