January 8, 2016

India's National Basketball Championship to tip off in Mysuru (Karnataka) on January 9 with the country's finest talents


Welcome to Mysuru, formerly Mysore, the third-largest city in Karnataka. Known for being the 'cleanest city in India', descending from a proud history of the Kingdom of Mysore, boasting beautiful palaces, and known for its popular silk saris.

And now, hopefully, for its basketball, too.

From January 9-16, the entire Indian hoop nation will descend in Mysuru for India's biggest and most prestigious basketball tournament, the 66th Senior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women. The 'Senior Nationals'- organized by Karnataka State Basketball Association (KSBBA) under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) - will tip off Chamundi Vihar Stadium Complex in the city on Saturday. The Senior National Basketball Championship is returning to Mysuru after a gap of 29 years. 29 men’s teams and 24 women’s teams representing most of India's states and provinces have confirmed participation.

Karnataka's chief minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the tournament on Saturday evening.

Last year's Senior Nationals were held in Bhilwara (Rajasthan). In the Women's section, Chhattisgarh repeated after 2014's surprise win to once again win the gold. In the Men's tournament, 2013 champions Uttarakhand bounced back to reclaim their place at the top. Chhattisgarh's Poonam Chaturvedi recovered from a brain tumor to win the tournament's MVP in the women's division, while Uttarkhand's Amrit Pal Singh was the Men's MVP.

Chhattisgarh’s Women team will attempt to complete a three-peat of titles after breaking Indian Railways’ monopoly over the trophy two years ago. In the Men’s section, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Services, and hosts Karnataka will feature stacked rosters competing for the title. India’s best players will be there competing for the nation’s most prestigious domestic title. Over 160 matches will be played in this premier league cum knockout gala that will see the country’s top international stars in action. Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (Indian men’s team captain), Anitha Paul Durai (veteran Indian women’s captain), Jeena PS (Kerala) and Karnataka’s own international stars Arvind Arumugam, Bhandavya HM and Rajesh Uppar are just few of the big names expected to participate in this marquee event.

"In terms of number of teams to register, this is the highest participation we have received in a long time," said K Govindaraj, President of both the KSBBA and the BFI. "Bengaluru hosts many Championships, we wanted to give Mysuru an opportunity to showcase its infrastructure and host a National level event. With this exposure, hopefully Mysuru can also conduct an Asian level competition in the future."

Speaking on the innate potential of basketball, he said, "If you go to any school, taluka or district stadium, you will find a basketball court. That is the ubiquitous presence of basketball, which we are going to take to greater heights."

Participating Teams

Men
  • Level 1: Group A: Uttarakhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Delhi.
  • Level 1: Group B: Tamil Nadu, Services, Kerala, Indian Railways, Telangana.
  • Level 1: Group C: Chhattigarh, Chandigarh, Goa, Odisha, Puducherry.
  • Level 2: Group D: Rajasthan, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura.
  • Level 2: Group E: Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Level 2: Group F: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh.
Women
  • Level 1: Group A: Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Level 1: Group B: Delhi, Indian Railways, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab.
  • Level 1: Group C: Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Level 2: Group D: Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha.
  • Level 2: Group E: Bihar, Gujarat, Puducherry, West Bengal.
  • Level 2: Group F: Chandigarh, Goa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand.
Besides on-court action, the BFI and KSBBA will also be organizing the FIBA Asia Development Plan - Referees clinic at the Chamundi Stadium from January 14-16. This will be conducted by Heros Avanesian, Head of Competition – Asia, International Basketball Federation, FIBA Asia. As per the FIBA Asia directives & guidelines it is mandatory for all National and FIBA Active referees to participate in the clinic. Non-participants or referees who fail the tests will be deprived from officiating FIBA ASIA events.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah will be inaugurating the Championship at 5 pm on 9th January. Other chief guests will include V Shrinivasa Prasad (Minister of Revenue & Dist. in charge, Mysuru), Dr. HC Mahadevappa (Minister of Public Works Department), Mahadev Prasad (Minister of Co-Operation) and K Abhaychandra (Minister of Youth Services and Fisheries).


3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. This is so dope. India really has the potential to be a great hoops nation but its just this damn sport called cricket which is taking all the limelight and not allowing people to follow any other sport besides cricket and soccer :(

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  3. " FOOTBALL IS THE BEST TOOL FOR MANIPULATING THE MASSES "

    Spending 2 weeks in Barcelona Spain; It’s a football night tonight and everyone’s out on the streets.

    Barça, the local team here in Barcelona, has won the current championship, and everyone’s going nuts about it.
    Looking on at all the ruckus from the relative comfort of a night bus, me and a friend observed : “ If everyone chose to spend this energy on rising up and demanding their rights, they’d really achieve something ”.

    It seems so clear that FOOTBALL IS A TOOL FOR MANIPULATING THE MASSES !!!

    In childhood, we’re taught not to be boistrous, not to have fun, make noise, dance or express ourselves.
    Our teachers need it to be this way so that they have a controllable class that doesn’t make life hell for them.
    In turn, their jobs put them in this situation because The Powers That Be (TM) want children to be taught to be controllable.

    In the end we have people who have associated limitless joy and self expression with shame and just don’t “ let it all go ” in normal situations. They keep their energy contained.
    This energy needs an outlet, and The Powers That Be (TM) sure as hell don’t want that outlet to be any sort of uprising, demanding their rights, etc ..
    So they make boistrous, loud expression acceptable in a controlled, harmless context. Football.

    Football is largely a tool of manipulation. Nothing more than a blanket covered over your eyes.
    So are many other forms of “ entertainment ” and occupation.
    They are ways of containing your energy in a safe way.

    Take your energy back and channel it into something that isn’t so safe. CHANNEL IT ONTO BEING FREE !

    Why don’t you quit your job and search for a way of earning money without a boss, with the same fervour as a football fan ?

    Why don’t you use the time you gain by creating your own prosperity and meditate and contemplate and free your mind, with the same fervour as a football fan ?

    Why don’t you improve yourself by reading and exploring and growing, with the same fervour as a football fan ?

    And once you’ve done all this, why don’t you create something different ? Something new ?

    Why don’t you make a revolution ?

    Why don’t you help people see the chains that are around them or create new alternatives for them ?

    Why don’t you clear the way for others like you ?

    Improve the world. Get moving. Don’t waste your fucking time. We’ve got a world to save here.

    " GO BASKETBALL "
    BASKETBALL IS THE BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD ©
    NBA HOOPS IS THE BEST SPORTS SHOW ON THE PLANET ©


    Fred BULLOT # 1 Elite Prep Schools Basketball Scout in Europe & ASIA ©

    Tel # 01 45 35 69 95 (from France)
    Tel # 33 1 45 35 69 95 (from outside France)
    E-mail : fredbullot@hotmail.com
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    Skype ID : " fredbullot "
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