Sahaij Sekhon

Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon is an Indian basketball player.

Sahaij Sekhon
No. 1 – Chandigarh
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNational Basketball Championship
Personal information
Born (2001-09-01) 1 September 2001
NationalityIndian
Listed height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Career information
High schoolVivek High School, SD School
CollegeGGDSD College
Career history
2021–presentChandigarh
Career highlights and awards

Early life

As a kid, Sahaij Sekhon started out playing cricket, wanting to be a batsman. In second grade he shifted into soccer. It was while playing soccer that his first coach Rakesh Kumar, spotted the boy. Kumar recalled that Sekhon played with quickness and guile that was like none other he had noticed before. Despite his relatively short stature back then, coach Rakesh recommended him to take up basketball as he felt that it would suit Sahaij Sekhon's skillset better.[1]

Playing career

At Vivek High School in Chandigarh, Sahaij Sekhon played with the u-19 team in 2017 while being one of the youngest and shortest players. Coach Rakesh stayed with Sekhon as his mentor. During 11th grade, Sahaij Sekhon tansfered to SD School. Around the same time, he had a massive growth spurt, where he grew 8 inches within a short period of time to reach 6 foot 4 inches.[1]

Sahaij Sekhon played for his home city Chandigarh in both U-16 and U-17 competitions. In 2020, he won the Most Valuable Player award in the Senior Nationals.[2]

Sekhon has also played for GGDSD College where he has studied for his Bachelor's degree.[2]

National team

Because of Sekhon's dominant High School performances, coach Rakesh recommended to his family that they take him to coach Amarjeet Singh who had worked with India's senior national team in the past. Amarjeet Singh noticed that Sekhon's skillsets were leaning more towards a defensive minded Point guard.[1]

During India's Senior National Basketball Championship, Sekhon was playing with his Chandigarh team against Uttar Pradesh. India's national team coach Veselin Matić approached Sekhon's team manager and subsequently invited Sekhon to the National team training camp in January 2020.[1]

At the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification do-or-die game against Palestine, Sekhon acted as a game changer as through his defense he locked down Palestine' top scorer Kyndall Dykes.[1]

Player profile

Sekhon is known especially for his quickness and defensive abilities.[1]

References
  1. Meet Sahaij Sekhon- The diamond among the other gems of Indian Basketball Ananth Narasimman (thebridge.in), 3 September 2021. Accessed 11 November 2021.
  2. सहज ने भारतीय सीनियर बास्केटबॉल टीम में बनाई जगह Amar Ujala, 26 November 2020. Accessed 12 November 2021.(in Hindi)
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