The Mamannan Rajarajacholan Rural Basketball Development Trust has adopted the Srinivasa Rao Higher Secondary School in Thiruvaiyaru for imparting basketball training for boys.
The Trust's thrust to adopt the school got a fillip with the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association's (TNBA) decision to set up a basketball court in the school campus.
“TNBA wishes to promote the game in the rural parts of the State. We have made a beginning; the association plans to extend the initiative to other districts as well,” K.N. Ramajayam, president, TNBA, said on Sunday.
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Commending the various steps taken by the Trust to promote basketball in Thanjavur, he assured TNBA's support for such efforts. Mr. Ramajayam said that the national youth basketball championship would be held at CARE School of Engineering in Tiruchi in the first week of June. “We believe that youngsters would be inspired to take to basketball by watching quality matches,” he added.
Founded in 2007 to promote basketball among the youth of Thanjavur, especially those in the rural parts, the Trust has been conducting coaching camps, district-level inter-school basketball league, and other events to tap talent.
“Basketball is a popular sport among youngsters in the rural areas. There is enormous talent available in these parts. It is all about providing them proper training and guidance,” said Trust founder, D. Rameshkumar, who ranks among the select group of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) referees in the country.
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Mr. Ramajayam presented sports kits to the boys of the school in the presence of R. Ilangovan, TNBA secretary, and L. Suren, treasurer.