Basketball on resurgence in Kerala’s sporting history
March 8, 2018
Basketball, though an Olympic sport, is not the first choice for many Indians. The fact that it favours tall, well-built players, is another disadvantage. But Kerala is a state where basketball is played and followed with passion. The performances of new and young players have made it a talking point in Kerala’s sporting circles. College teams are coming out on top, beating well established names in their own backyard.
St. Berchmans College is one of the better teams to come through the ranks. The team from Changanassery and coached by Dimal C. Mathew, jolted professional sides like Kerala Police and KSEB in the recently concluded JCI basketball tournament in Athirampuzha, near Ettumanoor. It won the tournament is ecstatic fashion, much to the surprise of the basketball community.
“We didn’t have anything special, we played a very fast game and we combined well. Jaimon Jacob, Akhil Baiju, Akhil Idicula, Sam Sunny, Sohul and Sudarshan were among our players who did well in that Athirampuzha tournament.” Said the proud coach.
The competition is fierce as Kochi’s Customs and Central Excise, Kerala’s champion club, is leaving no stone unturned to continue its dominance. With C.K. Menon Champions Trophy getting underway at the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium from Wednesday, fans will watch withheld breaths as to how the tournament unfolds.
We will keep you updated with all interesting happenings in Kochi.
