NBA Rising Stars Invitational: India's Velammal School squad gains global exposure in Singapore
Synopsis
Velammal International School carried India's flag at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore, absorbing a 95-61 defeat to Jubilee High School but returning with something more valuable — a clear-eyed read on the gap between Indian youth basketball and Asia-Pacific's best, and a roadmap to close it.
Key Takeaways
Velammal International School represented India at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore , running 23–29 June 2025 .
India lost to Jubilee High School by 95-61 in their group-stage fixture at the OCBC Arena .
Team member Kushal Manjunatha Singh described the tournament as a benchmark exercise: 'We are here to know where and what we need to improve on.' The event features 12 boys' and 12 girls' teams of under-18 athletes from across the Asia-Pacific region.
NBA champions Jeremy Lin and Mitch Richmond , Lakers forward Rui Hachimura , and WNBA champion Lauren Jackson headline the event.
Velammal International School's basketball team represented India at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore on 26 June 2025, gaining critical exposure to elite Asia-Pacific competition in what coaches and players described as a pivotal learning experience for Indian youth basketball.
How India Performed
The Indian squad faced Jubilee High School in a group-stage contest, going down 95-61. The scoreline, while wide, did not tell the full story of a young side playing against more experienced international opposition for the first time at this level. The team showed competitive spirit throughout, according to those present at the OCBC Arena.
Team member Kushal Manjunatha Singh offered a candid and mature assessment after the game. 'Back in India, we are number one. We can beat any team in our age group. But here, the competition is different. We are here to know where and what we need to improve on,' he said.
What the Tournament Involves
The NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2025 runs from 23 June to 29 June at the OCBC Arena, Singapore, organised in collaboration with Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The tournament features 12 boys' teams and 12 girls' teams, all comprising athletes aged 18 and under drawn from across the Asia-Pacific region.
This year's event is headlined by a roster of basketball luminaries, including NBA champions Jeremy Lin and Mitch Richmond, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, and WNBA champion Lauren Jackson.
Why This Matters for Indian Basketball
Velammal International School's participation marks a noteworthy moment for grassroots basketball development in India. Exposure to Asia-Pacific-level competition at the under-18 stage is precisely the kind of accelerant that sports development experts argue is missing from the Indian pathway. Notably, the team's willingness to benchmark against stronger opposition — rather than avoid it — reflects a shift in competitive mindset among Indian youth programmes.
This is not merely a participation exercise. The insights gathered in Singapore — on conditioning, team systems, and pace of play — are expected to feed directly into the squad's preparation for future domestic and international competitions.
What Comes Next
The tournament continues through 29 June, giving the Velammal squad further opportunities to compete, observe, and absorb lessons from the region's best under-18 programmes. Their performance in Singapore is widely seen as a foundation — not a ceiling — for where Indian youth basketball can go.
Point of View
And Velammal's Singapore outing is a rare corrective. Kushal Manjunatha Singh's post-match reflection was more strategically lucid than most adult sporting responses: he named the gap, not the scoreline. The real question is whether this exposure is institutionalised — fed back into coaching curricula and selection pathways — or remains a one-off highlight. One tournament does not build a pipeline; consistent international competition does.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2025?
The NBA Rising Stars Invitational is a high-school basketball tournament for under-18 athletes from across the Asia-Pacific region, held at the OCBC Arena in Singapore from 23 to 29 June 2025. It is organised in collaboration with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board, and features 12 boys' and 12 girls' teams.
How did India's team perform at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational?
Velammal International School, representing India, lost to Jubilee High School by 95-61 in their match on 26 June 2025. The team viewed the result primarily as a learning opportunity against stronger Asia-Pacific competition.
Who is Kushal Manjunatha Singh?
Kushal Manjunatha Singh is a member of the Velammal International School basketball team that competed at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore. He drew attention for his candid post-match assessment, acknowledging the gap between Indian youth basketball and international standards while framing the tournament as a development benchmark.
Which NBA and WNBA stars are at the 2025 Rising Stars Invitational?
The 2025 NBA Rising Stars Invitational is headlined by NBA champions Jeremy Lin and Mitch Richmond, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, and WNBA champion Lauren Jackson.
Why is Velammal International School's participation significant for Indian basketball?
It represents a rare instance of an Indian school-level basketball team competing at a structured Asia-Pacific international tournament under the NBA banner. Exposure to this level of competition is considered essential for accelerating the development of India's youth basketball pipeline.
