Indian Railways secured their place in WASL’s culminating showpiece after winning the 75th Senior National Basketball Championship in Chennai. The title was their 10th national championship and first in 16 years.
The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), whose sporting structure dates back to 1928, has built a sporting legacy across various disciplines. Basketball has been an important part of that history, with prominent names in Indian basketball such as Gulam Abbas Moontasir, Surendra Kumar Kataria, Hanuman Singh and Ajmer Singh having represented the Railways.
However, Indian Railways will be without Palpreet Singh Brar for their maiden international campaign. The veteran India international will remain in India to await the birth of his second child.
Palpreet is one of the most experienced players in the Railways setup, making his absence a significant factor as the team steps onto the WASL stage for the first time. Despite that, the Railways’ roster combines international experience with domestic pedigree, with six players expected to play central roles in their WASL debut.
Dominique Jones brings an experienced presence to the Indian Railways backcourt. The veteran guard has NBA experience and spent much of his career in China, where he was named CBA International MVP in 2022-23. His scoring and playmaking will be important as the Railways move up to WASL competition.
Cleanthony Early is already familiar with the Final 8 stage. The 2.03 M (6'8") forward played for Sagesse in 2024, averaging 21.6 points and 9.4 rebounds across five games. He will also enter the competition seeking redemption after he and the Green Castle finished as runners-up to Al Riyadi in the 2024 Final 8 championship in Qatar.
Darlinstone Dubar adds size and versatility on the perimeter. The 2.03 M (6'8") wing played college basketball at Iowa State, Hofstra and Tennessee before moving into the professional game, most recently in Greece.
The imports will carry significant responsibility, while the Railways will also depend on their Indian core.
Princepal Singh brings international experience and size at 2.08m, having represented India at the FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon provides another experienced option in the backcourt, while Kanwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu enters the competition as the MVP of the 75th Senior National Basketball Championship.
With three international additions joining a core that has just conquered the Indian domestic game, Indian Railways will arrive in Lebanon with a roster built to face a new level of competition.
For a programme with generations of history in Indian basketball, the WASL Final 8 will mark another major stage in that journey.
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