The collegiate lam Showdown organized by the Elite Pro Basketball and Elite Women’s Pro Basketball League kicked off in Kolkata yesterday

Kolkata : The Kolkata leg of the Collegiate Slam Showdown (CSS) began yesterday with over 300 aspiring basketball players expected to enroll in the very first season held at The Eastern Railway Sports Association Basketball Court in Behala, Kolkata. This championship is set to witness a display of talent and future growing basketball stars as university students from across the eastern region of India come together to compete in this tournament.

Commenting on the event, Chief Operating Officer of the Elite Pro Basketball League, Pranav Prabhu, said, “We are incredibly excited to kick off the Kolkata leg of the Collegiate Slam Showdown here in Kolkata. The South Zone was more than exciting and we are already seeing a lot of potential in the young stars. We remain committed to supporting their journey towards professional basketball.”

The Collegiate Slam Showdown is an open basketball tournament designed to provide a structured pathway for aspiring basketball players to progress to the professional stage. Divided into four zones—North, South, East, and West—the CSS features both male and female categories, allowing players to form open teams within their respective zones, uniting students from multiple universities. A total of 180 boys’ teams and 60 girls’ teams are participating from across India. The Kolkata, kicking off today, will see fierce competition among 32 men’s teams and 18 women’s teams. Following the zonal championships, the winners from each zone will compete in a national championship to claim the ultimate title.

The South Zone championship has already concluded, and now all eyes are on the East Zone as the tournament progresses. The response from colleges and universities in every zone showcases the growing interest and participation in basketball among the youth.