The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : Indian basketball set for big league

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 14, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Basketball

Indian basketball set for big league

NEW DELHI: The standard of Indian basketball may get a shot in the arm in the near future as NBA has evinced interest to develop the game in the country.

To start with, NBA may send coaches and conduct training programmes to lift the standard of the game in the country. Thereafter, efforts would be made to have a professional league and in the long run attempts would be made to help a few Indian players achieve the dream of getting into the professional league in the United States.

During the World Congress of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Tokyo recently, the secretary general of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), Harish Sharma, met the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NBA, Adam Silver, and requested him to view the possibilities of developing the game.

"We presented a true picture of Indian basketball and they received the idea of coming into India with warmth and sincerity,'' said Harish Sharma in an informal chat with a few sports scribes here on Wednesday.

In another major development, there has also been a healthy discussion with Nike Global towards the promotion of the game in the country.

The Global director of Nike, looking after basketball sports marketing, George Raveling, showed keen interest and has assured support in terms of bringing coaches and the NBA stars towards the promotion of the game. — Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport