Guwahati: Left red-faced after basketball world body FIBA de-recognised the sport from the 12th South Asian Games due to government interference, the organising committee has gone on a damage control mode, trying to find a feasible solution before the start of the events.
In a letter to the basketball federations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and hosts India, the FIBA has advised the participating nations not to send their teams to the multi-sporting event to be held in Guwahati and Shillong from February 5 to 16. Basketball discipline is scheduled to be held here from February 11-16.
Organising Committee CEO and SAI DG Injeti Srinivas said that efforts are on to find out a solution so that the basketball competition goes ahead as per scheduled February 11-16 itinerary.
“FIBA is a the world body of basketball and we can’t just say that we don’t respect them. They are the world body and important stakeholder in the sport. We respect them. But we feel that a solution can be brought about,” Srinivas told PTI.
Asked specifically if the discipline will be scrapped in view of the FIBA dictat to the participating countries not to take part in it, Srinivas said, “We have not taken any decision yet. The IOA President will be involved in trying to sort out the issue. He will directly speak to the FIBA people and we are still hopeful that basketball goes on in the Games,” he said.
FIBA recognises a faction of the Basketball Federation of India while the IOA recognises another . The IOA had selected Indian players to take part in the Games while the FIBA-recognised faction had also done the same. (PTI)
