Celebrating women through basketball

Deshi Ballers returned this year with the event "Ball for Equality 3x3 Basketball Tournament". The event was held on March 6, 2020 at Gulshan Youth Club, with title sponsor Save & Serve Foundation, official sports partner Decathlon, media partner SHOUT, adventure partner Ground Zero BD, and radio partners ColoursFM and Dhaka FM.

Twelve teams participated in this year's tournament, welcoming young women from diverse backgrounds and age who are passionate about the sport.

Marsha Binte Siddiq, a member of the team Sunny Ballers gushed over how exciting the tournament was for her team, "Our team played together back in school 10 years ago. It was exciting to have the same level of coordination with one another even after all this time."

"The competition this year has been a lot more fierce because all the teams are better trained than they were last year," said Ashreen Mridha, Co-founder of Deshi Ballers.

After the final against Bengal Ballers, team B23 consisting Aryah Jamil, Manar Tanvir, Sana Noor Manzur and Syeda Ariba Haque took home the championship.

"It's been a surreal experience for us. We grew up playing in our school and we were always inspired by our seniors. It was amazing to play with them in this tournament," said Sana Noor Manzur.

Armina Hok from team Bengal Ballers was recognised as the top scorer of the tournament. Manar Tanvir from team B23, Umama Zillur from team Malteasers and Mashiyat Tanvir from team B20 won the title of MVP, Free Throw Queen and Skills Challenge Winner respectively.

The champion and runner-up teams were awarded with special gift hampers and coupons by Decathlon. The top 4 teams were provided with team tickets to play paintball by Ground Zero BD and were also provided with free tickets to the Joy Bangladesh concert on March 7 by chief guest Nahim Razzak, Member of Parliament, Convener, Young Bangla, Advisor Save & Serve Foundation.

Other guests during the closing ceremony included Md. Showket Hossain Jibon, General Secretary, Gulshan Youth Club; and Sayeda Kabir, EC Member, Gulshan Youth Club.

Deshi Ballers is a female-led organisation that was founded to create a platform that could empower women in Bangladesh through sports, specifically basketball.

The organisation was founded by Ashreen Mridha and Gulnahar Mahbub Monika. Other organisers of the event includes Ibrahim Mohammad, Uzma Ahmed, and Md Fahad Yasin.

To find out more about Deshi Ballers, visit www.facebook.com/deshiballers