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{{Infobox sportsperson
 * name = C Jayasankar Menon
 * image =
 * imagesize =
 * caption = Jai in 2000
 * nationality = Indian
 * sport = Basketball
 * birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|12|06|df=y}}
 * birth_place = Thrissur, Kerala, India
 * height = {{convert|1.97|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 * weight = {{convert|135|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

Summary Overview
The first basketball player from South Asian region to represent ‘ASIAN ALL-STAR’ Basketball team comprising of top 16 Basketball players of Asia at the Basketball extravaganza held at Seoul in 1997. Captained Indian Basketball team at the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship in 1996 at Seoul. Winner of 2 Gold Medals in SAF Games held at Colombo 1991 & Chennai 1995. Member of Indian Basketball team which secured ‘Silver Medal’ at the Kelantan International Bball tournament held at Kota Bharu, Malaysia in 1991 He represented Indian Basketball team in 4 Asian Basketball Championships - Bangkok- 1987: Beijing – 1989: Kobe (Japan) – 1991 & Seoul – 1995. Represented Indian Basketball team for 11 years while participating in 15 Senior Nationals and secured Gold Medal 5 times, Silver and Bronze Once. In 1996 he captained TN State Basketball team which won the Calcutta Nationals Recipient of MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in 2 Interzone Basketball Championships.

Awards
2016 Recipient of Guruvacharya Award constituted by the National Institute for Education & Research (NIER) India.

1993 Recipient of Outstanding Sports Person Award from Dr J. Jayalalitha, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

1992 Recipient of Outstanding Sports Person award of Indian Bank

Brand Ambassador of Chennai Marathon organised by SDAT.

Accolades & Positions
Founder & Secretary General of IBPA, the Integrated Basketball Players Association, formerly known as Indian Basketball Players Association. Founder Secretary of Kerala Sports persons Association (KESPA) Chennai. Former Member – Sports Committee of Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Expert Basketball Commentator for DD Sports Advisor of Professional Basketball Academy.

As an organizer
One of the few international sportspersons in India who have continued to show a keen interest in promoting sports by organizing various national as well as international events.

As a Banker
Appointed under Sports quota in Indian Bank in 1991, prior to that worked with Indian Railways for four years. Currently heading the Indian Bank, Kellys Branch.

Founder of KESPA & IBPA
Formed two organisations to take care of the welfare of the sportspersons. The Kerala Sports persons Association (KESPA) Chennai in 2002 which is taking care of sportspersons of all the disciplines and the IBPA – Integrated Basketball Players Association is formerly known as Indian Basketball players association to take care of the welfare of Basketball players of all over India and to promote the game further.

Early life and beginnings
Our saga begins in the Wadakanchery, in Thrissur district, in Kerala around 1980. Young Jai, the son of a revenue officer in the Thrissur Municipal Office, grows up with what he calls a “free pass” to a local basketball tournament. His first major exposure to the world of basketball comes when Jai participates, not on-court, but just beside it, as he manages the scoreboard for the games.

But his own sublime basketball skills continue to grow as he grows older and taller. Learning under a coach at the local sports council, CP Michel, Jai improves to qualify for the Kerala Youth (U16) side, playing in his first National tournament at Bhilwara in Rajasthan. Soon after, in the year 1984, he gets selected to the Sports Hostel in Kerala, a move that injects a boost into his hoops development.

But basketball wasn’t the only sport that Jai participated in. He was also a very able Handball player and was selected to represent Kerala’s Senior Handball side. Unfortunately, before he could explore his potential on the Handball court, his destiny would be changed forever.

“I should say, fortunately, I got into an accident,” Menon says, “While I was in Trivandrum for the Senior State coaching camp, an Auto-Rickshaw ran over my leg and I injured myself. That, luckily, put an end to my Handball career!”

When he recovered, he was fully back to basketball, as he began to play regularly and developed into good shape. “Of course I’m happy now that I had that accident!” Menon added, “Basketball got me so much more than Handball could have – I’m obligated to this game.”

Rookie Career
Jai climbed the ranks quickly, from Youth to Junior to the Senior side, before he joined Railways in 1987 and moved to Chennai, where he played for Southern Railways. That was the same year that Indian Railways took part in the World Railway Games in Delhi, where Indian Railways obtained a silver medal. Later that year, Jai was picked to his first Senior National, when India participated in the Asian Basketball Championship in Bangkok.

Later that year, the 19-year-old was part of the Railways squad that won the first Senior National in 19 years, at Mysore. He was part of the team that started a golden era for the Railways side, who are now favourites to win every major competition they participate in.

Jai played his first senior international game for India against Jordan, an 89-72 victory for India. But he got a bigger confidence boost as, in a rare move, the coach made him part of the starting five. “I completely didn’t expect that – usually youngsters have to move up the ranks before they get a starting slot. It was a rare opportunity for me, in my first international game, to start for India.”

The Hero and the heroine
Every hero needs a heroine, and the female lead role in the story of our main character is played by someone who is a legend herself, someone who deserves her own headline story. In 1994, Jai married Prasanna Kumari, who was the former captain of the Indian Sr. Women’s side. A few years later, Jai became captain himself, taking the helm of the Indian Sr. Men’s team.

“We were probably the first marriage of captains,” Menon said, “Not only in basketball but in any sport!”.

The proud parents of 2 lovely girls, Archana and Krishna. Jai and Pras, as she is affectionately called are working hard at giving back to the sport that they love in their own inimitable way. Pras by coaching grassroots basketball, teaching fundamentals to kids as young as eight years old up to senior level. Jai is actively involved in the professional development of the sport and the restarting of a professional league in India.