INTRODUCTION : Indian sports is not able to produce world class players because the rural India does not have proper infrastructure or professional coaching. Having been a Basketball promoter for the last 25 years in Bangalore city - my project SUMPOORNA is to make Distt. Tumkur a `BASKETBALL DISTRICT' of India.
A survey indicated that the Distt. has no public basketball courts, other than the one in Tumkur City and this too has broken in many places. The courts at St. Mary's and SSIT cater to the needs of their own students. Not more than 20 people played the game of basketball and this too very irregularly.
THE GAME PLAN : The campus of SUMPOORNA with a state of the art RCC basketball court was inaugurated in January, 2005. About 100 children from Morarji Desai School, Siddarabetta were the first ones to get training here. This was complimented by providing Clay-court facilities at Govt. PU College, Koratagere - where more than 250 children actively got involved with Basketball. Regular week-end classes and occasionally SUMPOORNA campus camps were organized. Many college students also use these facilities. Koratagere has very good basketball teams in all age groups now. A CEMENT COURT IS BADLY NEEDED HERE!
Subsequently, a shooting board has been put up in Tiptur and Madhugiri where many children utilise it [however, lack of a coach is being felt - we keep searching for volunteers]. TPEO of Chikkanayankanhalli promised a clay-court and immediately we provided them with two shooting boards. We hear the clay-court is being actively used. Approximately 2000 children play the game of basketball in Distt. Tumkur now.
INFRASTRUCTURE: We have requests from other taluks also and we hope in the year 2008 the minimum basic requirement of one clay-court in every taluk would be in place. Requests to BEOs and TPEOs for providing at least `some funds' so that we can provide the balance amount are being regularly made. Training camps can be conducted at taluk headquarters, hobli centres and individual schools who show `interest'.
TRAINING : SUMPOORNA will recruit and train young sportsmen/women from local areas and depute them as TRAINEE BASKETBALL COACHES. After acquiring sufficient knowledge they could be employed by schools on part-time basis [if they are pursuing higher studies] or full time basis as SUMPOORNA BASKETBALL COACHES. The most promising players would be integrated into the SPORTS HOSTELS run by SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA and at a future date play for the STATE or COUNTRY.
FUTURE: A grass -root sports revolution in one game can help other games too. We would be conducting various tournaments to sustain the interest in Basketball. A synergic relationship between school managements and SUMPOORNA has already worked wonders - Govt PU College, Koratagere; Morarji Desai School, Siddarabetta; St Mary's School, Bishop Sargent School, Tumkur; Govt High School, Nonavinkere; Govt. High School, Chikkanayakanahalli - are examples of what can be done.
CONCLUSION : Rural children have very good physical fitness and if they are given opportunity to play CITY GAMES they can definitely give the urbanites a run for their money. However, the crying need for infrastructure and `professional coaching' must be addressed. SUMPOORNA DEDICATES ITSELF FOR THESE AND INVITES PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT.
SUBHASH MAHAJAN 080-99808 30145
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