There will be two big International tournaments in India this year, K. Govindaraj, president of Basketball Federation of India (BFI), announced after the Annual General Body Meeting in Puducherry on Saturday.
While the FIBA Asia Cup for women will be held in July — tentatively scheduled in Bangalore, the FIBA U-16 girls’ championship will be held in October-November in India — for which a city hadn't been decided yet.
On the future of UBA Pro-League, Mr. Govindaraj said, “We have left it to our sub-committee to submit a report in due course of time.”
It emerged late in the evening that the BFI has approved the fourth edition of the UBA League. It will be held from February 16 in two legs — first leg will, possibly, be in Chennai.
The Senior National Championships will be held in Telangana while the Junior Nationals in U.P. and the Youth in Chandigarh. The last event in the 2016-17 BFI calendar, the Federation Cup, will be held in March in Chennai, while its next edition will be in Andhra Pradesh.
On the BFI not getting complete support of the government, which is affecting players as they are not getting appointments in government sectors, Mr. Govindaraj said, “It is really unfortunate as according to International Olympic Charter 28, if the World body (FIBA) has given the recognition to us, it is the duty of the government to support.”
On whispers that negotiations between the BFI, and Poonam Mahajan (president of Maharashtra State Basketball Association) and Roopam Sharma (secretary of Delhi Basketball Association) are on for a patch-up, Mr. Govindaraj said, “When both the Associations have taken part in the meeting, and their teams in the Nationals, where and what is the problem? That question you should ask them [Poonam and Roopam].”
Mr. Govindraj also said, India doesn’t need a foreign coach, but requires foreign trainers, adding “We are working on it.”
