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A dream come true for Geethu Anna Jose

Stan Rayan

— File photo

Geethu Anna Jose

KOCHI: Geethu Anna Jose’s dream of playing in Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League — one of the world’s best leagues — came true this week with Dandenong Rangers signing her for the forthcoming season.

“I’m so excited…I don’t have any words to express my feelings,” said the Indian basketballer from Melbourne on Saturday.

She will be the first Indian to play in the premier league.

“I’m selected in the 12-member team…I still can’t believe that a player from India has been selected to the WNBL,” said the 23-year-old, the Asian championship’s top scorer and top re-bounder last year in South Korea.

Many talent scouts from the American WNBA, the world’s top league, were interested in Geethu after watching her Asian championship performance but the Kerala-born centre told this correspondent recently that her heart was in Australia.

That she felt more comfortable down under.

First big break

Geethu got her first big break in Australia from Ringwood Hawks, a second division side in the Big-V League in Victoria and has been playing for the team for the last three seasons. She was named as the league’s most valuable player twice and it’s now clear that her performance has impressed some of Australia’s big teams.

The WNBL starts in October and runs till February. Dandenong Rangers finished fourth last season. “I saw a couple of their games, they play really tough,” said Geethu. “Our team has also signed a WNBA player Jenny Benningfield.”

Short visit

Geethu, who is employed with the Southern Railway in Chennai, will make a short visit to India early next week to play in the Tamil Nadu State championship and in the inter-Railway meet in Guwahati.

For sure, it’s going to be a very busy season for Indian basketball’s biggest star.

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