'We never updated': BFI President Unveils Strategic Plan to Accelerate Basketball Growth in India

Basketball Federation of India president Ahav Arjuna stressed on importance of establishing more acemies in India. According to him, act will improve popularity of sport exponentially in country. Subsequently, he asked government and corporate houses to help build se facilities.

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BFI Prez Calls For Establishment of More Acemies

Ahav Arjuna's appeal has come after BFI has built a National Basketball Acemy in Mumbai's Karjat area in partnership with Corvuss American Acemy. He said two more acemies will be launched next year.

"We are going to start acemies. We don't have any acemy system. We have alrey started an acemy in Mumbai (Corvuss)," Arjuna told PTI on sidelines of FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers event here. "Next year, we are going to start in Manipal and SRM University in Chennai. So, many colleges, and schools are rey to sign with BFI to start acemies. Right now, we are talking with corporates to invest in league to start ir infrastructure. Of course, we have alrey given our request to ministry to start different acemies."

Besides acemies, Arjuna believes a significant investment will also be needed in technology and coaching systems, which will furr aid players' development.

"Sports is a science actually. We never updated in last 25-30-40 years actually. We are just playing with old methods and old style. So, we have to invest in technology part, particularly coaching system," he ded.

"We don't have a proper coaching system at grassroots level actually. re is no update on coaching side. That's why we are alrey planning with coaches clinic and referees clinic.

"So, we are going to plan on changing structure and starting league system, giving importance to our players and coaches also. It's going to develop economically, development for players also."
With numerous events lined up thanks to NBA, 2025 is going to be a major year for Indian basketball, he said.

"Almost, we have 15 lakh schools in India, and 70% of schools have a basketball ground. Because of 5,000 square feet, piece of small part of ground.

"You can't start football ground, you can't start athletic ground, you can't start cricket ground. So, players know basketball. problem is continuity.

"So, that's why we tied with NBA for school league. Next, we have U-25 league, and n professional league is also going to start next year. refore, 2025 is action year," he signed off.

(With inputs from PTI)