(JAIPUR, INDIA) – South Sudan student athlete Akot Becky Paul Macuei is quickly becoming a name to watch in India’s university sports after helping SRM University’s women’s basketball team reach the final of the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025.
Akot, who is 18, arrived in Chennai in July to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology on a sports scholarship. She was unsure whether she could continue playing basketball at a competitive level, but has since found a strong support system within the university’s sports community.
She explained that many young people in South Sudan believe India is mainly a cricket country, but she was struck by the enthusiasm for basketball when she joined the team. The warm reception from her teammates made the transition easier and encouraged her to push both her academic and sporting ambitions.
Akot grew up in Rumbek, where she often played the game quietly because her parents wanted her to focus on education. Her elder sister, Akon Paul Macuei, already represents South Sudan internationally, and her parents felt that having one athlete in the family was enough. Akot, the youngest of six children, was determined to combine both study and sport, a balance she continues to pursue in India.
Her plans were interrupted in 2020 when her father died from COVID 19. The loss almost halted her hopes of playing basketball at a higher level. It was her elder sister who encouraged her to apply for sports scholarship programmes outside South Sudan, which eventually led her to India.
The Khelo India University Games 2025 is her first major competition in India. She said she was surprised by the quality of facilities, the standard of play, and the level of organisation. She described the courts, coaching, accommodation and athlete support as impressive and said the scale of the tournament exceeded her expectations.
Akot believes the next three years in Chennai will give her the skills and experience she needs to compete for a place in the South Sudan national team. She hopes her journey will inspire more young South Sudanese athletes to seek opportunities through education and sports abroad.
For many families in South Sudan, education costs remain a challenge. Sports scholarships such as the one Akot received reduce the financial burden on students and offer new pathways for talent development.
Akot says the academic side of her life in India is equally important. She hopes to use her science education to contribute to development efforts in South Sudan, particularly in biotechnology and public health, areas where the country continues to build capacity.
