Will a new basketball court help Nagpada regain its lost glory?

IF Shivaji Park is known as the breeding ground for Indian cricketers, Nagpada is popular for basketball.

The Nagpada neighbourhood boasts of a rich history. Fifteen of their players went on to represent India.

Unfortunately, over the years, no one from Nagpada has represented India at the senior level since Shahid Qureshi donned national colours in 1998.



Nagpada in a way, reflects the sorry state of basketball in Maharashtra as the state men's team failed to make it to the top eight in the national championships. To make matters worse, even the junior team is experiencing similar results.

But as they say, there's light at the end of the tunnel. The basketball fraternity saw a ray of hope yesterday when India's first-ever refurbished court was inaugurated by three-time NBA champion AC Green at the Nagpada Neighbourhood House.

It was the first of a series of courts the National Basketball Association (NBA) would develop across India.

Lost glory
Now that the basic facilities are in place, the big question is, will Nagpada regain its lost glory.

"The real game begins now," former India international and Arjuna awardee Abbas Moontasir told
MiD DAY.

"We have got the necessary infrastructure. But that is not enough to make champions. Players need to work hard; be more dedicated. Only then, can we expect something.

"There are hundreds of excuses to give but the players should show more interest.

"If they are not willing to work hard, I don't think the scenario will change. Green rightly said that we need to work hard daily. Only then can we have some results," Moontasir added.

No time
Another former international Esmero Figueiredo said: "The education system has become so complicated that kids hardly have anytime to play."

Lack of jobs is a factor too. "There are so many who didn't get jobs and that is why they quit the sport. Unless there is good incentive, no one will take up basketball," said Figueiredo.

However, Moontasir hoped that the refurbished court provides a fillip to basketball in Nagpada.

"It is up to us how we utilise this," he stressed.