"FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship will boost the momentum for basketball in India", says Chander Mukhi Sharma
- The FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2017 will be held from 22nd to 28th October in Bengaluru at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and the Koramangala Indoor Stadium.
- Preparations are well on track and both the venues are being refurbished as per FIBA guidelines. The government of Karnataka is fully behind the BFI to ensure the successful conduct of the event.
- This will be the second FIBA event in the same year that will be held in India. The first FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Championship was also held in Pune (India) back in 2009.
- The top four teams from the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2017 will qualify for the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup to be played in Minsk (Belarus) next year.
- India has been placed in Group A of Division B along with Sri Lanka, Nepal and Iran.
- India needs to emerge as champions of Division B to get elevated into Division A for the next edition.
- The Indian U16 women’s team has been training in Bengaluru under foreign coach, Mr Zoran Visic who also coached the the senior women's team to victory in division B of the FIBA Asia Women's Cup held earlier this year in India.

Image credits : Basketball Federation of India
Bengaluru, 14th October 2017: Preparations for the prestigious FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2017 are in full swing. At a press conference this afternoon at Bengaluru, BFI President K. Govindaraj and Secretary General Chander Mukhi Sharma provided the details of FIBA’s flagship event for upcoming Asian women’s basketball.
"The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in July brought a lot of laurels for Indian basketball. We are looking to build on the momentum started by the Senior Women's National team, and are excited to make the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship as big a success as the previous tournament," said BFI President K Govindaraj.
“We do believe that hosting events of such magnitude acts as a catalyst in our overall effort to develop basketball in India,” he added.
“The two back to events at the FIBA level has provided the BFI a wonderful opportunity to build the in-house capabilities,” added BFI Secretary General Chander Mukhi Sharma.
The Championship is all set to take place from October 22nd-28th at the Sree Kanteraava Indoor Stadium and the Koramangala Stadium in Bengaluru. This will be the 5th edition of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup.
India needs to top Division B to get elevated back into Division A for the next edition.
Online ticketing:
The city of Bengaluru last hosted a FIBA Championship just two months ago(FIBA Women's Asia Cup). The Championship is returning now at the U16 level. Just like the Women's Asia Cup which drew huge crowds, it is expected that the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup too will be a big boost not just for the city but also the state of Karnataka and the country.
With the inclusion of Oceana teams( Australia, New Zealand) and Asian giants like Japan, China and Chinese Taipei, this event is expected to provide immense inspiration to the young aspirants and the senior players as well.
Tickets are on sale in full swing online since 13th October (www.ticketgenie.in/tickets/fiba-U16). Starting 22nd October, tickets will also be sold at the box office at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Full support provided to the Indian team
There are high hopes for the Indian team as they will try to get to Division A. The BFI identified probables over two months ago and they have been in a coaching programme in Bengaluru itself so that they get acclimatized with the weather and playing conditions.
Serbia’s much-acclaimed coach Zoran Visic has taken charge of the team with help from veteran Indian player Anitha Pauldurai. BFI is providing all facilities to enable them to put their best foot forward. Diet, medical requirements, proper accommodation in a good hotel, transport and whatever is needed has been provided in order to ensure that the team regains its due place in Level 1 again.
About the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup
The FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup has been conducted since 2009. The competition is held every other year on odd years (2011, 2013, 2015, etc.).
The last edition of the event was held in Indonesia where China won it for the third time. Also, the first edition of this tournament was held in Pune, India in 2009 in which China claimed its first title.
For more information and the complete coverage of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2017, visit http://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u16women/2017