Things have started looking up for basketball in India. The NBA Academy has come to the country with a lot of zeal and held a two-day camp for girls in Greater Noida.
The NBA and the Basketball Federation of India have identified 20 female prospects in age group of 17 and under from across India. 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Jennifer Azzi, two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley and former college coach Blair Hardiek – the global technical directors for women’s programming across the league’s seven academies – oversaw the camp.
Utilising talent
“We really want to globally impact the game but we’ve realised that we have a unique opportunity in India. There’s a lot of talent here amongst these girls and we want to make sure that we let them know that we believe in them, see their talent and potential. And we want to share the knowledge that we have as professional athletes,” observed, Ruth Riley, the Global Technical Director of NBA Academies Women’s Program at a panel discussion.
The selected girls got a chance to have a lifetime experience with the Academy as its directors and coaches flew down to develop and hone their skill sets. What made the experience memorable was that it was not just confined to the court but outside as well. Each day before the practice the athletes were made to attend a panel discussion, talking about various aspects related to the game. The Academy’s aim is not just to improve the game amongst girls but rather to spread a sense of hard work, perseverance and seeking opportunities for self.
Warm and welcoming
“Basketball has its own language,” remarked Jennifer Azzi, Global Technical Director, NBA Academies Women’s Program, when asked if they had to face the language barrier. Further, she added that there was no such obstacle that they had to face, rather she and her team were really happy to be here in India because the people here have been very warm and welcoming towards them.
Talking about the selected athletes, Ruth said, “These girls are amazing. The girls here in India have been very energetic and excited about the game. They are really talented. It’s fun to see how hungry they are to learn.” Adding to this, Jennifer said, “It has been really fun to work with these young women, because they are excited to be here, they are grateful to be here and they love basketball. They are like sponges, and they want to absorb.”
Talking about obstacles faced by her in the past, Divya Singh, the former captain of the country’s national women’s team, who is also part of the programme, says , “When I started playing, I had to face a lot of difficulties but it was my hard work and my parent’s support which helped me sail through all of them. During that time, proper amenities were not available in Varanasi. And I am glad that over the years the necessary infrastructure is available because of development and awareness about the game.”
