Basketball is a popular sport in India. In 1893, T. Duncan Patton brought Basketball to India. It became popular in India with women and later on with men.
What is Basketball?
Basketball is adequate to play indoors and outdoors too. It has five players on two teams. Each team has to score marks by shooting the ball into the basket. The basket is present 10 feet above ground level. Dr. James Naismith is known as ‘The Father Of Basketball’ He introduced Basketball in 1891. He was bored and thus started an indoor game. He started a mild version of Basketball known as duck-on-a-rock and later modified it into Basketball.
Dr James started Basketball when he joined as a physician at YMCA Training School, Springfield. He aimed to create a game that used skills as well as strength. In 1892, The first match of Basketball in the world occurred. A student called it Basketball as they used peach baskets as the basket to put the ball. The baskets were modified into metal baskets with holes below later. Baskets without holes made them climb ladders to get the ball back. It became simpler to play when holes were introduced.
Cricket and Football are more successful in India. The 1st match of Basketball happened in 1930. It was a Championship held in New Delhi. The Basketball Federation Of India (BFI) was initiated in 1950. It deals with the promotion and development of Basketball in India. In 1936, the Indian National Team became a member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). It is present in FIBA Asia and Indian Olympic Association. K.Govindraj is the current head of BFI. The basketball players received many trophies. They received Arjuna Award and Dhyan Chand awards for their hard work.
Basketball’s popularity
Government policies are present to develop Basketball. It increased the popularity of Basketball across the world. The Olympics added Basketball to their competitions. The first Basketball Olympics was in 1936. Berlin Olympics Games held Basketball for the first time in the Olympics. According to newspapers, it is one of the most memorable moments in the history of Basketball,. In 1940, Basketball was covered on TV. It increased the popularity of Basketball considerably.
Popular Basketball players
Khushi Ram was known as the scoring machine of India. He took India to successful heights. He was the captain of the Indian Basketball Team at the national level in the Asian Basketball Championship. The Championship is now called as FIBA Asia Cup.
Ajmer Singh brought golden periods in Indian history. He got eight golden medals and won 22 international championships. He also competed in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Amjyot Singh Gill played a crucial role for Team India at the FIBA Asia Cup. He is also credited for bringing Indian basketball players’ skills to a professional level.
The existing situation of Basketball
The players are supported through Government schemes and private sponsors. The developments commit their time to increasing the qualifications of young basketball players.
