Turning Passion into Reality: My Experience with Basketball Wales

It’s always great when we hear our alumni are starting to make waves in the industry. Akshat Kandya, a recent graduate of MA Sports Communication and Journalism, has been busy working with Basketball Wales in the role of Communications Officer over the last few months and here, he reflects on his work with Basketball Wales.

As a passionate MA Sports Communication and Journalism student at Swansea University, I have always been fascinated by the influence storytelling can have not just on a sport but on an individual’s personality.

Since July 2025, I have been working as a Communications Officer with Basketball Wales- the national governing body of the sport of basketball in Wales. I got this opportunity to work with Basketball Wales on learning through LinkedIn, that they were looking for candidates for the role of Communications Officer for the organization who will be selected subject to interview clearance.

In this role I have the following responsibilities-

Write news articles and press releases to promote fixtures, community activity and national events for Basketball Wales’s website and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X).

Assist in the development and scheduling of content across the organization’s social media platforms.

Support the delivery of internal news using Campaign Manager on Sport:80

Monitor digital engagement metrics and assist with performance reporting.

Attend events or matches to assist with on-site communication tasks.

Undertake communication and administrative support duties when required.

Contribute to media relations activities, including partner tagging, post-match coverage and event photography.

I have written 16 articles until now for Basketball Wales’s official website and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X). These articles have covered various themes ranging from grassroot development schemes to local as well as national tournaments we have participated in or conducted. Each article has one simple aim- to highlight the vibrant and inclusive nature of basketball and bring fans closer to the sport.