TN's Ulhas Finding His Feet in Serbian League

Just as he back-pedalled in defence, Ulhas KS took a sharp step forward to intercept a pass. He then charged up the court a few paces before delivering a pass to a teammate, who went on to score. In the space of just a few seconds, the 26-year-old from Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu became the first-ever Indian to play in and make his mark in the top-flight Serbian National Basketball League, Division 1.

- Shahid Judge

"Everyone in the city seems to know me and know where I stay," he says. "I meet people when I'm out at a restaurant or a grocery store, and they offer to pay for my bill, or the shopkeeper gives me things for free. It's a cold country with warm people."

There is plenty of support for him from the fans and his teammates, but he had to earn his place on the team's roster. He may be new to Serbia, a country whose men's basketball team won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but he is not new to European basketball.