Globe Trotters are here to inspire youth to play basketball

Chennai, Nov 10 (UNI) Hoopsters of the US NBA team, Harlem Globe Trotters (HGT), regarded as ambassadors of basketball, arrived here today to exhibit their, to lovers of the sport in India and inspire youth to take to the sport.

The professional stars from the New York Nationals team, will play friendly matches in select south Indian cities where the sport has a tradition, from November 13 to 24 to give a fillip for the development of the sport in the country.

At a press conference, Anil Kumar, Country Head of 'Sportz India' and promoter of this unique awareness programme, said for sheer showmanship and joy of the game, there was none to beat the HGT stars.

'Sportz India' has tied up with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) for this purse and BFI would utilize the occasion to raise the standard of the game in the country.

The team would play 11 exhibition matches in Bangalore (November 13 and 14), Hyderabad (Nov 15 and 17), Chennai ( Nov 18 to 20), Kochi (Nov 21 and 22) and at Satya Sai International Centre for Sports, Puttaparthi on November 23.

The special match at Puttaparthi would coincide with the Birthday of Satya Sai Baba on November 23.

On the reason for choosing the Southern cities to popularise the sport, Mr Anil Kumar said the sport was more popular down South than in North. Moreover, there was no indoor stadium in Mumbai.

However, during their next trip, possibly in April or May 2007, the world famous stars from HGT would be touring northern and western parts of the country like New Delhi, Ludhiana and Pune to popularize the sport.

''Our aim is to invite them twice a year so as to give a major boost to the sport'', Mr Kumar said and added during the tour the players would also participate in some promotional events and visit schools and colleges to encourage the young people to take to the sport.

Jeff Munn, Executive Vice-President of HGT said in India the sport was on the rise. ''We have come here to promote the game. We would like to be part of the game's growing in popularity'', he said.

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