Akanksha Singh is the present captain of India Women`s National Basketball Team. She is playing for the national women team since 2004 to till date and her platter is packed up with various awards. In the year 2010, Singh was awarded the Most Valuable Player in India`s first Professional Basketball league, MBPL 2010. This achievement recognised her as one of the first ever Top Four Players to grab the "A Grade" from the Basketball Federation of India.
Early Life of Akanksha Singh
She was born on 7 September 1989 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Her father is a banker. She belongs to Varanasi`s "Basketball Family". Her sisters Priyanka Singh, Divya Singh, Prashanti Singh and Pratima Singh, all are well-known basketball players. Three of her sisters are currently member of the India Women`s National Basketball Team. Her brother Vikrant Solanki is an under-19 Delhi State Football Team Player.
Awards and Achievements of Akanksha Singh at National Level
Akanksha Singh has been awarded the Best Player in many national and state championships. Some of her achievements are as follows-
•Declared as one of the best four `A grade players` across the country in Women section in India.
•Declared as `Most Valuable player` in first All India Mastan Basketball Professional League held at Mumbai in 2010.
•Grabbed `Best Player Award` in the league match in MBPL, Mumbai, in 2010.
•Declared as the "Most Valuable player" in All India Inter University Basketball Tournament held at Nellore in 2008.
•Won 24th FIBA Asian Basketball Championship for Senior Women, Chennai in 2009.
•In her captaincy at University of Delhi she won a gold medal in All India University basketball championship at Nallor, where she was given joint best player award along with her sister Pratima Singh.
Achievements of Akanksha Singh at International Level
•33rd William Jones Cup 2011, Hsinchuang Gymnasium, Taipei Chinese
•23rd FIBA Asian Basketball Championship for Senior Women, 2007, Korea
•18th FIBA Asian Basketball Championship for Junior Women 2007, Bangkok, Thailand
•2nd FIBA Asian Basketball Championship for Young Women, 2006, Singapore
•17th FIBA Asian Basketball Championship for Junior Women, 2004, ShenZhen, China
•Indian Camp for 21st FIBA Asian Basketball Championship for Senior Women, 2005, Quinhuangdao City, China
Honours Conferred on Akanksha Singh
While studying at St. Stephen`s college, New Delhi, she was conferred with the following honours:
•SEP 2006 Best Player Award in XXXII St. Stephens College invitational Basketball tournament held at St. Stephens College, New Delhi
•SEP 2005 Best Player Award in XXXI St. Stephens College invitational Basketball tournament held at St. Stephens College, New Delhi
•Special Award in Basketball for excellent performance as a member of the St. Stephens College, for the year 2005-2006
•Special Award in Basketball for excellent performance as a member of the St. Stephens College, for the year 2006-2007
•Special Award in Basketball for excellent performance as a member of the St. Stephens College for the year 2007-2008