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Basketball Without Borders
July 9, 2008
Another man who's seen basketball in India from its infancy up to a newly named position of prominence is Bollywood star Jackie Shroff, who flew from Mumbai to Delhi specifically for the event. Speaking with rediff.com, Shroff said that India is on the verge of a basketball revolution. "Having the support and input of NBA and FIBA professionals will be a huge help," he said. "Right now, there's not enough competitive basketball in India, because the corporate sponsorship and government support isn't there. Despite this fact, our boys are still competing and doing quite well. Once we have the proper support, I'm 100% sure that we can be a top basketball nation."
But it wasn't only the swanky American Embassy and five-star hotels for the NBA delegation. During a trip to the Sahara Centre in Delhi -- an NGO that specialises in treatment for HIV/AIDS patients and disadvantaged women and children --the NBA players interacted with residents and workers at the hospice, where they played an impromptu game of soccer and made donations of clothes and shoes.
"No matter what I teach these kids here," said Kyle Korver of the Utah Jazz, with a cooing infant in his arms, "I'm learning twice as much, from the people and the experience." Reflecting on the trip, Pat Garrity of the Orlando Magic said, "I've done Basketball without Borders in Africa, and I see some parallels, in the challenges that exist. It felt great to be out here, to try and make a difference in someone's life."
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