Bengaluru to Host FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia 2026 from October 20 to 25
Bengaluru will host the FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia 2026 from October 20 to 25 at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, bringing together six leading women’s basketball clubs from across Asia. The tournament is expected to boost women’s basketball in India and strengthen Karnataka’s position as an international sporting destination.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara announced the event at a press conference held at Karnataka Olympic Bhavan in Bengaluru on Monday. He said the state government was committed to developing the city into a major national and international basketball hub and would extend all necessary support to promote the sport.
The championship is being organised by the Karnataka State Basketball Association (KSBA) under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), with support from the Karnataka government’s Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
The six participating teams are Denso Iris of Japan, Cheongju KB Stars of South Korea, Sichuan Yuanda Meile of China, Akari Sparks of the Philippines, Cathay Life Tigers of Chinese Taipei and Indian Railways, the reigning national champions.
Highlighting the quality of the competition, Parameshwara said each team would feature two American players, while NBA players would also be part of the championship, offering fans an opportunity to watch high-level international basketball.
All matches will be played at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, with two games scheduled daily at 4 pm and 7 pm throughout the tournament.
Parameshwara said the championship would give young basketball players from Karnataka and other parts of India an opportunity to observe international players, learn from their skills and techniques, and gain a better understanding of competitive basketball.
He also emphasised the tournament’s potential to promote women’s basketball and inspire more girls to take up the sport. Indian Railways will benefit from competing against some of Asia’s strongest clubs, gaining valuable international exposure that Indian teams rarely receive.
The Deputy Chief Minister thanked K Govindaraj, president of FIBA Asia and secretary of KSBA, for bringing the championship to Bengaluru. He also acknowledged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s support and reiterated the government’s commitment to hosting major sporting events.
Parameshwara expressed confidence that the six-day championship would celebrate sporting excellence, encourage women’s participation and help establish Bengaluru as a prominent basketball centre in India and abroad.