Binita is not the only one to reach the basketball court in the freezing cold morning -- 10 boys and as many girls undergo training for basketball training from 6 am to 8 am with her. All of them have only one wish at the moment -- to participate and win the title of White House U-19 National Open Boys´ and Girls´ Basketball Tournament to be held from January 16 in Kathmandu.
“I used to play basketball since my schooldays. I came to know about the basketball tournament so am preparing for it,” said another teenager Binu Limbu. She had been declared the Most Valuable Player while she was in school during an Inter School Basketball Tournament.
Ashwini Rai, who is undergoing high school studies at the Depot School, thinks that the U-19 tournament is a great opportunity for the youngsters to exhibit their skills. That´s the reason she has been skipping a couple of classes. “I carry along with me my school dress. After the training is over, I wear them and join the remaining classes,” she said.
Depot School is the only school from the Eastern Region competing in the event, said Eastern Region´s Basketball Coach Bikas Rai. “These players have the qualities to play in the national level in the future. This tournament is also important in terms of exposure that it would provide the players,” said Rai adding, “This is also an opportunity for the players to show their skills.”
The final selection of players was conducted on Monday on the basis of discipline, diligence and consistency during a month long training, according to Rai. Ravi Basfor, Heman Rai, Nagesh Bhujel, Nagane Rai, Bhupal Rai, Baksal Regmi, Rajesh Rai, Shiva Rai, Nabin Rai and Karna Limbu have been selected for the boys´ team, whereas Binu Limbu, Anu Rai, Binita Rai (A), Binita Rai (B), Ashwini Rai, Stufa Rai, Kopila Rai, Brinda Rai and Anu Khatiwada have been picked up for the girls´.
It would be the first national level competition for the girls´ team, whereas the boys´ team has already proved their métier by winning the title of Xavier International U-17 tournament organized two years ago. No wonder that Rai believes that the teams, especially the boys, would accomplish the feat yet again.
Though a lot of students are willing to learn basketball, the quality of their performance has not improved much, said Rai, adding that proper investment in the sports sector could help produce top notch players.
Sunsari Basketball Association´s President Suraj Lama also echoed similar concern. “Basketball has good potential here but the players don´t have opportunities to show their abilities. Now they have got a good platform to prove it.”
The basketball tournament will be jointly organized by the Himalayan Whitehouse College and Nepal Basketball Association. The girls´ U-19 category is being included for the first time.
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