The Sports Ministry has taken exception to reports of a couple of Indian basketball players being forced to take off their turbans during the recent Asia Cup in Wuhan, China.
Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh were stopped by International Basketball Federation (FIBA) officials from entering the court minutes before India’s tournament opener against Japan on July 12, and asked to remove their turbans, citing FIBA rules.
“We are aware that some players of the Indian basketball team were not allowed to play with turbans in the Asia Cup held in China recently. We are shocked and outraged. We have spoken to Basketball Federation of India, and sought a detailed report from them,” sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in a statement.
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Neither player figured in the starting five in the match, and were allowed to play the first quarter only after complying with the officials’ demand.
They had to play the remaining six games of the tournament without their turbans.
“We have also asked International Olympic Committee to issue necessary guidelines/instructions to international sports federations so that such incidents do not take place again. Wearing a turban does not affect fair play, and has not been objected to in international sports championships. Therefore, the latest incident has surprised and shocked us,” he added.
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Article 4.4.2 of the FIBA rules states that headgear, hair accessories and jewellery are not permitted during competitions.
India had a commendable outing in the tournament in Wuhan, China, finishing seventh, even registering its first-ever win over the higher ranked host side, and running Asian powerhouses Jordan and the Philippines close.
The BFI said it had already written to the international body and was awaiting its response.
The Annual General Assembly of FIBA Asia will be held in Doha on Friday, with BFI senior vice-president K Govindraj likely to raise the issue there as well.