Dato Yeoh Choo Hock.

Chennai: Competitive basketball is conquering new areas of excellence, and this could be sustained only if Asia enhanced its contribution, said Dato Yeoh Choo Hock, Secretary- General, International Basketball Federation (FIBA, Asian Zone).

Mr. Yeoh, who was in the city to witness the final of the Golden Eagle-Blue Star Sports Academy all-India tournament on Sunday, said both FIBA and the Asian Basketball Confederation wanted to accelerate the pace of growth of the sport in Asia.

"While FIBA is focussing on development in Asia, we in the ABC are targeting India," Mr. Yeoh said. Claiming that the ABC was working in close co-ordination with Basketball Federation of India (BFI) — headed by Mr. Harish Sharma — Mr. Yeoh noted that several schemes were implemented to improve the quality of basketball in India. "It is not an easy job in a big country like India where basketball is not a major sport like cricket," he agreed.

Technical support

But such a line of thinking did not come in the way while charting out programmes particularly aimed at development in India. The ABC and FIBA were extending technical support to the BFI like in holding clinics for coaches and referees. He was confident that the game would get a major boost with Asia playing host to the Olympic Games in Beijing next year.

Mr. Yeoh had a word of praise for the manner in which China had grown in every discipline, especially basketball. The Chinese federation has embarked on a " massive training programme," which will include 30 to 40 matches in US and Europe. He also emphasised on the need for developing basketball in Asia where only three countries — China, Korea and Japan — were dominating for years, though new power centres are emerging. He named Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as forces to reckon with in future.

Admitting that the power equations had changed from United States to Europe, Mr. Yeoh reasoned that while basketball in the US was school and collegiate centric, the emphasis in Europe was on clubs. Countries like Greece and Croatia, to name a few, had achieved pre-eminence in the continent.

Professionalism

Mr. Yeoh agreed that professionalism in the Asian context had not reached the stage to attract the best. Barring Philippines, the set-up in other areas had not reached the high water mark. He was confident that the growing popularity of the sport in countries like Syria, Lebanon and Jordan should pave the way for a new vibrant state of professionalism.

While commending the authorities for bringing the "show" of Harlem Globetrotters to India last year, Mr. Yeoh said that it was time to explore the ways and means to take basketball to indoor stadiums to give the sport an elitist image. " Outdoor basketball does attract the masses but the game will get its elitist image only when played indoor."

Mr. Yeoh (63) was the Malaysian national coach from 1972 to 1989, and has been the Secretary General since 1998. He feels the game is drawing a lot of inspiration from the ABC President, Sheik Saud Althani of the Qatari ruling family. A staunch devotee of Sai Baba, Mr. Yeoh, who visits India every year, is flying out to Madurai on Wednesday for an audience with Baba at Kodaikanal.

Meanwhile, the Asian championships for men will be held at Tokushima (Japan) from July 28 to August 5, and for women at South Korea (Incheon) from June 3 to 10. The top team in each event will join China, automatic qualifier as host, for the Beijing Games.

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