Date:21/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/21/stories/2007122156972200.htm

Sport - Basketball

Uttarakhand men start favourites

G. Prasad

PUDUCHERRY: The star-studded Uttarakhand men’s team is expected to give others a run for their money in the 58th National basketball championship, which begins here on Friday.

However, Rajinder Singh, chief coach of holder Services, feels his team has talented players who are determined to retain the title.

Services, which won the crown last time after a gap of more than 20 years, will be without the seasoned Phool Singh. Sambhaji Khadam, Jayram Jatt and Dalip Kumar are the internationals in the Services side.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu, which won the title five times in a row between 1999 and 2003, will be hoping to regain its lost glory.

While Indian Railways is a strong contender for the men’s title, its women’s team , which has been a dominant force in the championship for quite sometime, will be hoping to extend its winning streak.

The championship will also see three persons officiating on the court. The groupings:

Men: Super league: Group ‘A’: Services, Uttarakhand, Indian Railways, Karnataka, Assam; Group ‘B’: Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chandigarh.

Women: Super league: Group ‘A’: Indian Railways, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh; Group ‘B’: Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra.