Zoran Visic announced as new Head Coach of the Indian National Women's Team
Coach Zoran Visic’s term as Head Coach officially began on 1st June and will continue till the end of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 that will be held from 23rd to 29th July in Bengaluru.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Bengaluru attended by Coach Visic, along with assistant coach Shiba Maggon and veteran playmaker Anitha Paul Durai.
India’s participation at the William Jones Cup in 5th to 9th July was also confirmed as an exposure tournament in the run up to the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
The competition schedule of the FIBA Asia Women’s Cup was also announced by the BFI. India is placed in Division B’s Group A, alongside Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.
From the 16 teams (8 teams each in Division A and B) originally scheduled to participate, Division B team American Samoa has subsequently backed out.
From L to R: Veteran playmaker Anitha Paul Durai, assistant coach Shiba Maggon, head coach Zoran Visic, BFI President K Govindaraj and BFI Secretary General Chander Mukhi Sharma, during the press conference in Bengaluru. Image credits: Basketball Federation of India
Bengaluru, 16th June 2017: At a press conference earlier this evening at the Century Club in Bengaluru, the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) announced the appointment of experienced Serbian Zoran Visic as the new Head Coach of the Indian National Women’s team.
The announcement was made by BFI President, K Govindaraj, who was accompanied by BFI Secretary General Chander Mukhi Sharma. Coach Visic was present as well, along with assistant coach Shiba Maggon and veteran playmaker Anitha Paul Durai.
Coach Visic’s term officially began on 1st June and will continue till end of July, specifically keeping mind the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 that will be held in Bengaluru from 23rd to 29th July. Thereafter, his term may be extended as mutually agreed between parties.
Although Coach Visic has been here for only two weeks, the Indian women’s team has already been training for the last few months in Bengaluru under the watchful eyes of experienced assistant coaches Paramdeep Singh and Shiba Maggon.
“India has done a lot to improve in both the women’s and men’s sides [in the last few years]. We are now in Division B. So for sure our target is to be once again in Division A,” Visic said, while addressing the media. “This is a new age for Indian basketball and I believe the girls have the confidence and pride necessary to deliver a good result.”
In Division B, India is placed in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. The fourth Group A steam American Samoa has backed out of the competition. Group B comprises of Lebanon, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Fiji. In order to return to Division A and compete in the 2019 FIBA Asia Women’s Cup, India will have to win Division B, finishing ahead of all seven other teams.
About Zoran Visic
Head Coach Zoran Visic. Image credits: Basketball Federation of India
Coach Visic is a FIBA World Instructor and has over 34 years of professional basketball coaching experience across Serbia, Romania, Russia, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Singapore. He is perhaps best known for being the head coach of the BC UMMC women’s team which was crowned EuroLeague champions in 2003.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Mr Visic has had considerable experience as a women’s coach at the international level. From 1994 till 2012, Mr Visic has been the head coach of nine professional women’s teams across the Serbia, Russia and Romania. In recent years, Mr Visic has been the Head Coach of the Singapore Falcons Men’s team (2015-16) and the Al Chabibe Club teams in Beirut, Lebanon (2016-17).
In terms of national team coaching experience, in 1995, he was the assistant coach of the Yugoslavian Senior National women’s team and in 1999 was the head coach of the Serbian junior national women’s team.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Romanian League Champion – ‘02
Russian Superleague Champion – ‘03, ‘04
Russian Cup Winner – ‘03, ‘04, ‘05
EuroLeague Final Four Winner – ‘03
FIBA World Club 3rd place – ‘04
Russian Superleague Semifinals – ‘05
Russian Superleague Regular Season Runner-Up – ‘06
Russian Superleague Finalist – ‘06
Russian Cup Finalist – ‘06
Serbian League Finalist – ‘07
Romanian Cup Semifinals – ‘12