IIT Madras introduces Phiball, a new three-team competitive sport

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has introduced a new competitive sport called ‘Phiball’. Launched on the eve of National Sports Day, the game is designed as a faster, more accessible reinvention of basketball and netball.

Phiball utilizes a circular pitch with a 26-metre diameter, where three teams compete simultaneously. Unlike traditional two-team invasion sports, players in Phiball must defend one rim while attacking two different opponent baskets. This structure requires athletes to make rapid tactical decisions and manage complex defensive strategies, as scoring by any single team affects the standing of the others.

Professor Sathyanarayana N Gummadi, Dean of Students at IIT Madras, noted that the sport was developed to require less ground and infrastructure than traditional basketball, making it easier to implement in schools and colleges. The sport was officially launched on campus by Director Professor V. Kamakoti to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.