Tamika Raymond appointed to lead Indian Sr. Women's National Team

Tamika Raymond has been appointed as the head coach for the Indian Sr. Women's Basketball team for the 16th Asian Games slated to be held in November. Raymond will be working with the Indian team in Chennai before leading them for the Games, which will be held in Guangzhou (China) from November 12-27.

Raymond was appointed coach by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) following a comprehensive search by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) for coaches in the U.S., and after interviewing several candidates, Raymond was selected. The National Basketball Association (NBA) assisted BFI in identifying potential U.S. coaching candidates.

Raymond will also be supported by IMG-Reliance who is in partnership to support BFI in developing basketball in India.

Raymond is a former WNBA player and NCAA Division I Assistant Coach. She spent seven seasons (2002-2008) in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), six with the Minnesota Lynx and one year with the Connecticut Sun. She also served seven years (2003-2010) combined as assistant coach at two NCAA Division I colleges: Ohio State University and University of Kansas.

"The players in this team are definitely talented," said Raymond, "I am hoping to put in some work with them so that they can become a tactically smart team with good fundamentals and strong defense. We still have a long way to go but I think this team can show some improvement perform pretty well at the Asian Games."

"It's a great challenge and I admire the work that the BFI is doing in raising the level of basketball in India."

Harish Sharma, the Secretary-General of BFI, welcomed Raymond to India. "We are excited to have Coach Raymond in India. She will bring her experience after playing in the world's best women's league - the WNBA - to our players, and she has also worked as an assistant coach in a tough D1 college competition. We are hoping that she can share her coaching expertise with the girls in India to improve our performance for the upcoming games."

"The BFI is grateful for the assistance of the NBA in helping us to bring her here," said Sharma, "Furthermore, our partners at IMG-Reliance will also continue to work with us to look after the coach's needs."

Raymond's job began in Chennai from Monday, October 4th as she began holding work-outs with the players. She will evaluate the talent available and work with his selected squad to train for the upcoming competition over the next few months.

Raymond’s appointment was announced soon after the appointment of William R. Harris, another American basketball coach who was appointed to lead the Indian Sr. Men’s Basketball Team to the Asian Games a week ago.

American Basketball Coach Bill Harris Appointed To Lead Indian Sr. Men’s National Team

William R. Harris has been appointed as the head coach for the Indian Sr. Men’s Basketball team for the 16th Asian Games slated to be held in November. Harris will be working with the Indian team in Chennai before leading them for the Games, which will be held in Guangzhou (China) from November 12-27.

Harris was appointed coach by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) following a comprehensive search by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) for coaches in the U.S., and after interviewing several candidates, Harris was selected. The National Basketball Association (NBA) assisted BFI in identifying potential U.S. coaching candidates. Harris will also be supported by IMG-Reliance who is in partnership to support BFI in developing basketball in India.

Harris has over 30 years of experience as a head coach in the game of basketball across several institutions in the US. His most-recent previous appointment was with Wheaton College (1991-2009), where he had tremendous success posting the highest career winning percentage as a head coach in the institution’s history (68.4 percent) and a career record of 320-148. He was named NCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 1996 and IBCA College Coach of the Year three times (1999, 2008, 2009). He has produced seven players who have played basketball professionally and ten players who have been All-America selections.

"I am a defensive minded coach that teaches discipline and I expect to have a team that competes as hard as they possibly can,” said Harris. “Success for the Indian Men’s National team may not happen overnight, but the NBA and BFI in have laid a good foundation for the development of basketball in India. This country has a large population with a lot of potential and untapped resources. The future is bright and I’m honored to be a part of this movement."

Harish Sharma, the Secretary-General of BFI, welcomed Harris to India. "Coach Harris has been hired to bring his expertise to further develop basketball in India. He is a successful and inspiring coach, and we are hoping that he can elevate the play of our Men’s team."

“The BFI is grateful for the assistance of the NBA in helping us hire him,” said Sharma, “Furthermore, our partners at IMG-Reliance will also continue to work with us to look after the coach’s needs.”

Harris’ job began in Chennai from Tuesday, September 28th, where he will evaluate the talent available and work with his selected squad to train for the upcoming competition over the next few months.

Shiv Kumar: An untimely end

Share|

The world of basketball in India woke up in shock a few days ago at the news of the untimely death of young national team forward, Shiv Kumar. Born in 1985, Kumar was barely 25 years old before his unfortunate passing away. Known for his resilience and good-nature, both as a player and a person, Kumar will be mourned dearly by all his loved ones and the followers of Indian basketball.

“Shiv was a very good player, but more importantly, a good person,” said JN Nehra, Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach at the Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Nehra had been associated with Kumar for nearly a decade, ever since Kumar was a budding youth and junior team star in Delhi.

Kumar was a model of resilience over his career. He was first picked for the Men’s National Team in 2006, and despite a few setbacks, always came back stronger. After suffering a serious knee injury in 2007, which led him to surgery, Kumar made a successful return to basketball through training, physiotherapy, and diet, to perform well again and qualify for the national team. “Shiv will always be remembered for his strong will power,” adds Nehra, “He was a good-natured boy, and all coaches that ever worked with him will be full of praise for his sincerity and hard work.”

Hailing from the Kiloi village in Rohtak, Haryana, Kumar played his junior years of basketball in New Delhi before transferring to ONGC in Dehradun. ONGC point guard Mohit Bhandari, who was a teammate of Kumar and also worked with him as assistant coach of the National Team in 2009, laments the loss of a great talent for the ‘Young Cagers’. “We still haven’t come to the realisation that we have lost Shiv,” said Bhandari, “He was a helpful and friendly person, and his loss will be suffered by our national team, too, because he was a regular selection, and was a strong and powerful forward.”

Kumar was seen playing a major role in recent tournaments, including the Mastan League at Mumbai in May and the Jeppier Tournament at Chennai in July.

Kumar’s career highlights have included participation in the 17th FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Kuwait (June 2006), the 10th Crown Prince International Tournament in Thailand (June 2006), Qualifying Round of MAZ at Kazakhstan (July 2006), 19th FIBA Asia Championship at China (September 2006), 18th FIBA Asia Basketball Champions Cup at Iran (May 2007), Qualifying Round for MAZ for 24th FIBA Asia Championship at Sri Lanka (June 2007), and the 24th FIBA Asia Championship at Japan (July 2007).

"Shiv was an established star in Indian basketball," said BFI secretary-general Harish Sharma, "On behalf of the Basketball Federation of India, I would like to convey my deepest condolences to Shiv’s family, friends, teammates, and fans for this loss."

Share|

North East: It's the Games, not the Festival

Share|

Read an interesting article in The Telegraph this morning about the 24th North-East Games currently being held in Shillong. The Games, which were previously known as the 'North-East Sports Festival', have had a change of name in hope to be taken more seriously and recognized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Unfortunately, like everything in mainstream India about the North-East, the sporting issues relating to those eight states continue to be taken lightly.

The Meghalaya State Olympic Association has appealed to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to take necessary steps to get the North East Games recognised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the North Eastern Council directly associated with it.
Speaking to The Telegraph on the sidelines of the ongoing 24th North East Games here, Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) general secretary D. Syiemlieh said the annual meet was yet to shed its “festival” tag primarily because it is not recognised by the IOA.
“It was a welcome initiative when it was rechristened North East Games instead of the erstwhile North East Sports Festival. However, the attitude of the organisers as well as the participants unfortunately remained as amateurish as before,” Syiemlieh observed.
“Unless it is recognised by the IOA and the state Olympic associations are involved, the attitude of the participants will not change because the medals and certificates in this meet are till now just ornamental. The SAI should take immediate steps to get it recognised by the IOA and get it organised more professionally,” he added.
The meet is now organised by the state directorates of sports or the state sports councils with partial funding from SAI. The state sports associations are involved in selecting the state teams and technical conduct only.

The North-East states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura - can be developed into essential breeding grounds for athletic talent in India. Already, a great many of our football stars have hailed from that region. It is sad to here words such as "the attitude of the participants will not change because the medals and certificates in this meet are till now just ornamental": the mainstream media, too, has to give more respect to that part of our country instead of treating them like our illegitimate step brothers.
The states have been competing against each other in Football, Badminton, Table Tennis, Basketball, Boxing, Wushu, Karate, and other events.

Share|