The Hindu : Bahrain, Kerala associations sign MoU

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 16, 2002

Sport

Sport - Basketball

Bahrain, Kerala associations sign MoU

KOCHI JULY 15. It could open a new exciting chapter for Kerala basketball. The Bahrain and Kerala basketball associations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Willingdon Island here on Saturday night, a pact that could take the game up a few notches in the State.

``We could have some of our top clubs coming to Kerala and probably even our national team to play a few matches here.

"The exchange programme will be fruitful to both as Keralites in the Gulf love to see their sports stars in action often,'' said the Bahrain association president, Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family and the president of the Caravan Group of Hotels, after signing the exchange treaty with the Kerala association president P.O.Philip.

Al Manama is Bahrain's champion club. It finished eighth in the recent Asian Basketball Confederation Champions Cup in Kuala Lumpur while India's Punjab Police finished 10th. Qatar's Al Rayyan won the title in Kuala Lumpur.

Kerala football teams are a big hit in the Middle East. A Kerala side went to Bahrain in 1987 and played two matches against club sides there.

But for Kerala basketball, this will be a new experience.

Sunny Kulathakal, MD of Gulf Asian Magazine, and KBA officials P.S.Viswanathan and John Kashmiri also attended the function. — Our Sports Reporter

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