NBA delegation on a fact-finding mission in India

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) Cricket maybe sitting pretty on top of the chart as country's numero uno sport but a visiting NBA delegation believes the second spot is lying vacant and basketball can well fit in there.

Currently in the capital to conclude its fortnight-long ''fact-finding mission,'' a National Basketball Association (NBA) delegation has sneaked into the country to get a first hand knowledge of the state of the game in India.

''It would be premature, almost arrogant to say that we have a concrete plan for India. We are here to absorb as much as we can about the state of the game in the country. Our finding would decide our next course of action. Ours is a motley crew of people from various wings of the NBA and this is strictly a fact-finding mission,'' Mark Aronson, NBA Entertainment's Vice-President for Events and Attractions, told reporters here last night.

''We know cricket is the undoubted number one sport but also strongly feel that basketball has enough prospect to grab the second spot. Our next step would be more formal research and we hope to come back with a more comprehensive programme,'' he added.

The NBA official admitted India posed a new challenge for NBA, which has tasted success in China.

''We don't have any fixed model for India. for we know we would be venturing into a unique field. We have succeeded in China but that doesn't mean the the same would click here. We heard India doesn't have the necessary infrastructure but found it's not as bad as we had feared.

''And Indian teams may not be exactly making waves but they are doing okay. I mean you can't compare India with US. It would take time but basketball surely has a future in India,'' Mr Aronson said.

The delegation has visited Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ludhiana before reaching here.

Basketball Federation of India secretary Harish Sharma welcomed the delegation and said, ''BFI has been charing the same goal with NBA -- to spread teh game. We are happy that the delegation is here and they would be meeting sports officials, players and even school students besides inspecting stadia.'' UNI AY DH RAI1214