With just 65 households, Dabulian village takes up basketball to keep youth off drugs

As part of the Punjab Government’s village-level campaign against drugs, Dabulian, a small village in Kapurthala district with just 65 households, is leading by example, using basketball to steer the youth away from drugs and establish itself as a sports model for the state.

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Each evening, the two national-level basketball courts in the village come alive with floodlights, where young athletes train with passion, aspiring to excel in the sport. Dabulian’s contribution to basketball mirrors the legacy of Sansarpur and Mithapur in hockey, earning it recognition across Punjab.

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Arjuna awardee and village resident Sajjan Singh Cheema credits Balkar Singh Cheema, an ex-serviceman, for introducing basketball to Dabulian. The village has produced international players like Balkar Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Sajjan Singh himself. The community’s dedication is further evident in the ongoing construction of a 35-foot-tall “Basketball Park”, which will celebrate the village’s sporting achievements and honour its athletes.

National-level player Tarunjeet Cheema, who coaches 50–60 children daily, emphasised, “Our youth have stayed clear of drugs, channelising their energy into basketball and bringing pride to our small village.” To prepare for state, national and international competitions, young players are sent to matches in Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar. The village also hosts an annual international-level memorial basketball tournament in honour of Balkar Singh, recognised by the All India Basketball Federation.

Recently, Dabulian’s Komalpreet Kaur represented India in the Under-17 category in the USA, a global hub for basketball, showcasing the village’s growing influence in the sport.

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The community’s commitment to the anti-drug cause is unwavering. Under the “Tandrust Dabulian” banner, 150 villagers, including a six-year-old, participated in a 14-kilometer marathon from Dabulian to Kapurthala to support the Punjab Government’s anti-drug campaign.

Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal visited Dabulian on May 20 to review its sporting initiatives and encourage young athletes. He announced plans to recommend the establishment of a day-scholar sports wing in the village to further boost its potential as a hub for nurturing talent.