IMG-Reliance and BFI launch two new basketball leagues

IMG-Reliance and BFI launch two new basketball leagues

MUMBAI: While the country is currently gripped with football fever thanks to the ongoing Hero Indian Super League (ISL), another sport is being promoted at the grassroots level-basketball. IMG-Reliance, the promoters of ISL, has now launched two basketball leagues along with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI). The two properties are: Indian School Basketball League (ISBL) and Indian College Basketball League (ICBL).

The two partners are hoping to inculcate the basic knowledge of the game at the grassroots level, thereby cultivating the talent into national standards. IMG Reliance has signed a 30 year partnership with the BFI which it says is to help develop basketball in the country.

 

The two leagues began in Delhi and Indore and after a series of matches in cities like Dehradun, Raipur and Hyderabad, the basketball league kickstarted on 17 October in Mumbai, where the matches are being played at Khalsa College.

 

Speaking on the progress of the league BFI chief executive officer Roopam Harish Sharma commented, “Mumbai is a very active city, full of life and energy. We are looking forward to an exciting display of matches as ICBL and ISBL. The response received so far has been positive from the end of all teachers, students and parents. I am very confident that a revolution will soon be created in the history of basketball in India.”

 

IMG Reliance COO Ashu Jindal said that India is witnessing a revolution in the world of sports and the second most popular sport in the world, basketball, deserves its share of push. “These two leagues are being played across 22 cities, designed to provide the youth a platform on pan-India basis,” he added.

 

The ICBL comprises over 450 colleges and over 6000 participants. The city champions from ICBL’s Premier League will participate in a National Championship to be held in December 2014 in New Delhi. In the boy’s category Jhunjhunwala College took on Podar College while VJTI College fought it out with Vaze College in the girl’s category.