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‘Basketball Without Borders’ starts

Sports Reporter

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

TIPS FROM A LEGEND: NBA’s Sam Perkins helps out a trainee.

NEW DELHI: The ‘Basketball Without Borders’ kicked off here on Friday with some top NBA players coaching young players from across Asia.

NBA players Kyle Korver (Utah Jazz), Ronny Turiaf (L.A. Lakers), Pat Garrity (Orlando Magic) and Linton Johnson (Phoenix Suns) along with legends of the sport, Sam Perkins and Dominique Wilkins, coaches Don Casey and Don Newman, trained 53 under-19 players from 15 countries at the American Embassy School here. Five Indians are taking part in the programme.

Wilkins said the camp in India could grow in stature in future.

“Since this is just the start, the first camp in India, we have taken only a few players. It’s important to educate these young players about basketball and we can carry it on from here,” he said.

In Asia, this is for the first time that the programme is being held outside China. International Basketball Federation (FIBA) President Bob Elphinston and Basketball Federation President R.S. Gill were also present.

National league

The President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Bob Elphinston, says a professional national league is imperative for India to emerge as a strong force in the sport.

Mr. Elphinston said on Friday that the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and the Union Government should join hands to start a national league that would boost the sport.

“There is a need to have a national league. If they start a senior national league they can bring some foreign players in that league,” said Mr. Elphinston.

The FIBA chief said the league would also create ‘major commercial opportunity’ for corporate houses.

In his response, Mr. Gill, said the blueprint of the professional league was ready and if things fell in place it would start in the latter part of the year.

In search of sponsor

“We are in search of a big sponsor because we want to start with a bang, not with a whimper. We want to give good accommodation, food and travel facilities to the players. If we get a sponsor, then it should ideally be held in October or November.

“To start with, we will have six teams from various states and organisations. We might have some foreign players, on par with the standard of our players, to make it more interesting,” Mr Gill said.

On the larger picture, Mr. Elphinston said Asia’s progress in the game was dependent upon India’s development.

“Asia is a sleeping giant of world basketball. China is good, Korea, Japan, Philippines are reorganising themselves. In India, Indonesia and Middle East, there is possibility.

“We also see that India needs to play a stronger role in Asian basketball. For Asia to be strong, India needs to play a stronger role — in terms of being influential in administration of the sport, in particular on the court.”

Mr. Elphinston expressed the hope that India would be able to host the 2010 Commonwealth Championships.

“Unfortunately, basketball is not part of the Commonwealth Games in India. We are disappointed with that. The Indian federation has agreed and they have asked to host the Commonwealth Championship. We shall bring top teams like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa and Nigeria,” he said.

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