Sikkim State Basketball Teams to make historic debut in India's National Championships
Sikkim State Basketball Teams to make historic debut in India's National Championships
India’s 22nd State has been invited to participate in the 38th Youth (U16) National Basketball Championship for Boys & Girls to be held in Puducherry from April 9 to 15.
In a long overdue and truly historic development, India’s 22nd State - Sikkim - is all set to make its debut in the National Basketball Championship.
Sikkim’s boys and girls teams have been invited to participate in the 38th Youth (U16) National Basketball Championship 2023 (postponed from last year), that will be held in Puducherry from April 9 to 15.
“Congrats to everyone who made this possible. It was indeed the longest struggle, bu we have finally done it,” Basketball Association of Sikkim (BAS) General Secretary Mr Jigmela Wazilingpa said on an Instagram post that announced the official invitation.
It is to be recalled that BAS had received provisional affiliation to the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) few years ago.
Sikkim’s Basketball Accomplishments
Significantly, pointing to the raw talent of the State, it is to be noted that despite never having never officially competed in the National Championships, Sikkim already boasts of having a player who has represented India internationally. That honour goes to Nima Doma Bhutia, who, in 2019, was in the Indian women’s squad for the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament from November 14 to 17 in Malaysia.
Sikkim is also home to the storied EMRS Gangyap girls’ tribal school team, which is a powerhouse at the CBSE National level, despite its limited resources.
With this latest positive news, Sikkim now joins Arunachal Pradesh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, to become the newest entrants in India’s competitive national basketball landscape.
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