Beyond the scoreboard: Dhumketu’s Nepal basketball exchange opens new doors

For Dhumketu Basketball Club’s women’s team, the recent trip to Nepal was about more than what was recorded on the scoreboard.

The Dhaka-based side travelled to Kathmandu for a Friendly International Basketball Exchange Programme, bringing together young women basketball players from Bangladesh and Nepal through competition, cultural exchange and activities away from the court.

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On the court, Dhumketu had the chance to test themselves against competitive opposition from Kathmandu and Pokhara.

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They opened their Kathmandu campaign with a commanding 63-14 victory over Boudhha International School, the Kathmandu champions, before beating local side Rim Runners 57-19. In Pokhara, they completed the tour with a 51-22 victory over Prativa College, the Pokhara champions.

Three games, three wins, but for a relatively new women’s programme, the bigger takeaway was the chance to step outside the domestic circuit.

The tour exposed the players to a different style of basketball and unfamiliar opponents while giving them a chance to gauge themselves against teams from across the border. Just as importantly, it allowed them to build friendships with their counterparts in Nepal.

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Away from the court, the Dhumketu delegation experienced the hospitality of their hosts and took part in team-bonding activities and social interactions. For the players, it was a reminder that sporting exchanges can create connections that continue long after the final whistle.

One of the notable moments of the trip came when the team met Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal Md. Shafiqur Rahman, adding a diplomatic dimension to what was already a significant sporting journey.

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For Dhumketu, however, the Nepal tour is not being treated as a one-off trip. It is part of a longer-term effort to create more international opportunities for its women players.

The club launched its women’s programme in 2025 and quickly established itself as a competitive force. In its debut season, Dhumketu Women won the Deshi Ballers All Age Girls Tournament and finished runners-up in the Freedom Dribble 3×3 Championship.

The team also represented Khulna in the 2025 Division League, where they went on to become National Division League champions.

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They carried that momentum into 2026, winning both the 3×3 and 5×5 editions of the Shadhinota Cup.

The Nepal exchange was the next step in that progression.

International tours can be expensive and difficult to organise, particularly for women’s sports programmes, where opportunities for overseas competition remain limited. Dhumketu’s trip was made more accessible with the support of sponsor Veloce Bicycles, whose backing helped the team take the step onto the international stage.

The team returned to Bangladesh with three wins, new friendships and a clearer idea of the work that lies ahead.

The scoreboard tells one part of the story. For Dhumketu, the more significant gain was the experience of putting Bangladeshi women’s basketball on an international court, building cross-border connections and opening the door to more opportunities. For the club, Nepal was not the destination. It was a starting point.