Harlem Globetrotters to shape India's hoopsters

Chennai, July 11 (UNI)The US team The Harlem Globetrotters, a US team which promotes the sport round the world, combining basketball skills with family entertainment, will tour India from November 10 to 24 to take the game to the next level.

SportzIndia, a sports management campaign will be embarking on this task under the aegis of Basketball Federation of India (BFI)with the objective of attracting more kids to the sport. On the Indian Tour, Harlem Globtrotters, which has some NBA stars in its compliment of 34 players of high skills, will play 12 games against New York Nationals, Country Head SportzIndia and CEO, IBL Basketball Promotion Trust R Anil Kumar and Jeff Munn, Executive Vice President, Harlem Globetrotters International Inc, announced at a press conference here.

The Harlem Globetrotters will also be scouting for players with talent and ambition to make it to the top and provide scholarships, coaching and exposure.

''We are looking at India as a virgin territory with huge potential,'' Mr Munn said.

Chennai has been chosen as a key stop as it is the ''basketball capital of India'' having contributed significantly to the game with institutions like Banks and Railways playing a key role in promoting the sport, Anil Kumar also observed.

BFI Associate Secretary M Venkatesh said the Federation welcomed the initiative as it was looking forward to raise the standard of Indian basketball to next level.

After their arrival in India on November 10, Harlem Globetrotters will play three games at Kanteerava stadium in Bangalore from Nov 12-14, Gachibowli indoor stadium in Hyderabad from Nov 14-16, three in Nehru indoor stadium in Chennai from Nov 18-20 and three in Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium in Kochi from November 21-23. They will also play one game in Thiruvananthapuram on November 23.

UNI VV DH ND1534