Akilan Pari (born 20 July 1989) is an Indian professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Punjab Steelers of India's UBA Pro Basketball League. India - FIBA Asia Challenge 2016, FIBA.com, accessed 2 April 2017.
Early career Pari already made a name for himself as a youth player. He captained Tamil Nadu's official state lineups for the U-13, U-16, and U-18 (junior) and senior men's level.AKILAN PARI – LIVING HIS BASKETBALL DREAMS , Gopalakrishnan R, ekalavyas.com, accessed 26 April 2017.
Sprite Uncontainable Game During the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, Akilan Pari was selected to play at the Sprite Uncontainable Game, where he was coached by Omri Casspi and Serge Ibaka.The Sprite Uncontainable Game: Meet the Players from Estonia, India and Lithuania , Colleen Oakley, coca-colacompany.com, 4 February 2013. Accessed 7 April 2018.
As of 2018, he has been labelled as one of India's best basketball players because of his passing and ball handling skills, and because of complicated engagement rules, missed a crucial playoff game against Lebanon, a game which India lost because of his absence.Engagement rules Akilan Pari out of India’s basketball World Cup qualifier, Ashim Sunam, The New INDIAN EXPRESS, 24 February 2018. Accessed 3 April 2018.
National team career He is a member of India's national basketball team since 2014. As of 2018, he serves as team captain of India's national basketball team.TN squads for senior National basketball named , The Hindu, 14 January 2018. Accessed 7 April 2018.15th SSN Trophy Championship Concluded Successfully, Expressnews, 23 August 2017. Accessed 7 April 2018.
References
External links Akilan Pari at 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualification
Akilan Pari at 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge Akilan Pari at SportingIndia.com Akilan Pari at Asia-basket.com Akilan Pari at FIBA Archive Akilan Pari at REAL GM