NBA to start first girls’ basketball development camp in India

The National Basketball Association of USA recently announced that it had plans to start a girls’ basketball development camp in Latin America, in the country of Mexico from March 9-11. This was in tandem with the period of International women’s day celebrations across the globe with an aim to boost the popularity of the game amongst women.

And now the NBA has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative for girls, wherein the NBA will conduct a series of basketball development camp in India for the very first time later this year. The training camp for Indian girls will start in the latter stages of the year at the NBA elite training centre in the capital of Delhi.

“We are committed to growing the game of basketball among boys and girls at both the youth and elite levels. After our successful launch of the NBA Academy India last year, we are looking forward to bringing the women’s Programme to India in 2018,” the NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco said as per a TOI report.

Similar training camps are also planned in the countries like Australia, China and Senegal by the end of 2018, where the NBA, in coordination with the respective national federations, will scout 20-25 female talents of Under-17 category for advanced training camps.

“The programme is a part of our commitment towards taking the game forward among boys and girls at the young and elite levels around the world. Having Jennifer, Ruth and Blair in a talent-hunt team, these talented young women players will get major boost to develop their respective games,” said NBA vice-president Brooks Meeks.

1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Jennifer Azzi, as well as two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley along with former college coach Blair Hardiek will be at the helm of these camps.

“It’s an honour to be a part of the NBA Academies Women’s Programme. I am looking forward to work with the talented girls from Africa, Australia, China, India and Latin America and help them maximize their potential on and off the court,” added Hall of fame member Jennifer Azzi.