Coach promises a decent show

Will it be any different from the previous championships for the Indians? The reply from the India Juniors coach, Mahinder Singh Rathore, was more positive. He was modest in admitting that India have a long way to go before achieving distinction, particularly the regional super powers like China, Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei doing exceedingly well in the game. With Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from the former Soviet blocs having improved by leaps and bounds and with the Philippines showing marked improvement, it is always going to be difficult for India to sustain, he felt.

He is, however, hopeful that the Indian juniors will be able to finish below 10 in the Calcutta championships. What gives credence to Rathore’s belief is the kind of grinding the 16 campers had been subjected to over four months now in Patiala. “The players had never had it so good. They have been together for over four months now and they know each other’s game well. They have realised the import of moving as a cohesive unit in a game where speed, stamina and skill play a major role into making a winning combination,” said Rathore, talking of the campers.

He must be speaking the truth for, never before in the history of Indian basketball, the probables have had such a long stint at the camp. At the Patiala camp, the juniors, apart from the routine training, have been undergoing sessions to overcome the psychological pressure in crunch situations in matches. “Apart from the three requisite S’s, it is also a mind game where one has to gauge the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses before passing or shooting the ball. Hence, these sessions are significant for the campers,” said Rathore.

The lack of confidence in the boys, Rathore reckoned, is because of the late start the Indians normally have in comparison to their counterparts abroad. “Here we start very late but in other countries they have programmes at school level. Moreover, the juniors have just one Nationals to get the feel of match temperament unlike abroad where the juniors compete in tournaments round the year.”

Hence, the BFI chose the ongoing all-India Master Prithvi Nath Memorial tournament, where top-level seniors are participating, as a launching pad for the juniors. They will not only gain in experience here but also learn the nuances of match temperament, particularly in crunch situations. Soon after this tournament, the juniors will be off to Bhatinda to compete in the Raja Pores tournament before they reassemble at Patiala for the last grind.

Rathore spoke highly of pivots Robinson from Gujarat and Ranjeet Singh from Rajasthan and mentioned Riazuddin (MP) and Des Raj (Punjab) as good outside shooters. India have a good ball handler in Mohit Bhandari apart from Riazuddin who can double up when the occasion demands. The BFI is likely to name the team a week later at Patiala after the Bhatinda tournament and Rathore is hopeful that his boys will make a mark in the forthcoming ABC event.

The Campers: Robinson (Guj), Ranjeet Singh (Raj), Vinay Kumar (AP), Wasim Khan (Bihar), Timu Jose (Ker), Gurpreet Singh (Pun), Mohit Bhandari (Raj), John Chandy (TN), Des Raj (Pun), Mahipal Singh (Raj), Riazuddin (MP), Gajendra Singh (Raj), Dilip Kumar (UP), Vipin Kumar (Guj), Abhjeet Singh (MP), Damandeep Singh (Pun).