Indian Basketball
One sport which I admire the most, which ate up all my time in the past, is the basketball. It is saddening to see the degree of recognition that it gets in our country. Basketball in India is more lukewarm in nature. Indians show least care in this sport.
The current scenario:
The team, the basketball national squad is called as “Young Cagers”. It is a great deal if a Zonal Team in cricket loses in a petty trophy, but our Basketball Team was qualified for the FIBA Asian Cup for 21 times which is least noted. The records show that the performance though not outstanding, it was very consistent.
I guess the game will be promoted only if someone like Sania or Sachin come over and say BB is one of a kind and so on. That state will be the most pathetic one to envisage.
The Indian Basketball Team has secured the 15th position in the continent which happens to be its worst, the best being in the year 2007 where we stood 4th. Having broken the ice every time, the accolades received is zero.
Women’s Basketball Team condition is still worse. It was a year ago; Indians were the host of the Asian Cup at Chennai. Apparently Indian Team (Women) lost to all the Eastern nations with a poor score.
The present state of the team is not so proficient. Despite the fluctuations they are also able to find a decent spot in the International Table. Had been given a great support and motivation from the Government and the people, the upshot will be fruitful. No investment is a bad investment.
Why this dip in interest?
It is not a great deal if China and Korea top in table tennis. If you have ever made a visit to those countries, there you will find table tennis courts everywhere. I really mean that “everywhere”, at the bus stops, schools (in and around), at the hotels, parks, hospitals, cafes wherever you go and got to wait for a while. The equipments are made of strong wood, plastics, stones and any material which the nature cannot hamper. Instead of waiting kids, adults, oldies everyone give a hand and play it.
Installation of such designs is worthless and will not happen here. If this game is made popular by calling out for communal matches, celebrity matches, matches for a cause, it will become a ‘hit’!
If 2 lakh crore is going to the ditch in the name of scams, nothing wrong if 10% of it is spent for a cause!
It is you who should decide whether Basketball in India is existing or endangered or extinct.
Tags: Basketball, Endangered, Exists, Extinct, India, Indian Basketball, Indian Sports, Sports India, Young Cagers
