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Mahindra
Group vice chairman, MD Anand Mahindra says, “We are
delighted to be partnering with the NBA to create a multi-city
recreational league in India. In a cricket loving nation such
as India, we feel it is important to encourage other sports
as well and we believe basketball is
perfectly suited to bring communities together and promote
healthy, active lifestyles to Indian youth.”
The
Mahindra NBA Challenge will begin play on 17 April when participating
teams tip off at the St. Dominic Savio and Mustan YMCA courts
in Mumbai. The Challenge will be structured as round-robin
play with teams playing one game a week over a seven-week
season. League champions will be decided in a weekend-long
post season knock-out tournament at the conclusion of the
regular season in each city.
NBA
Commissioner David Stern says, “Mahindra is the perfect
partner for the creation of a new recreational basketball
league for Indian fans. The BFI, Mahindra and the NBA share
a long-term commitment to growing the game in India and to
using the values of our game to make a positive, lasting impact
in Indian communities.”
BFI
Secretary General Harish Sharma says, “Basketball continues
to grow in popularity across India and now youngsters in Bangalore,
Ludhiana and Mumbai will have the opportunity to play in an
organized league and further develop their skills. The launch
by Basketball Federation of India and the NBA of the Mahindra
NBA Challenge is very exciting and will help accelerate the
basketball development of Indian youngsters.”
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