Basketball coaching camp stands out

Of the 58 non-residential summer coaching camps the State Directorate of Sports conducted in 14 disciplines at different places this month, the one in basketball at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar stood out. The huge interest to join the camp compelled the authorities to accommodate 42 boys and 16 girls against the sanctioned strength of 10 boys and equal number of girls. Besides accommodating additional trainees, the duration of the camp was also doubled for the same reason. Scheduled to be held from June 10 to 19, the camp actually started on May 10. The increase in duration proved justified as Prabit Patnaik, the tallest boy of the camp, went on to represent his district in the 45th State basketball championship earlier last month at Cuttack. According to camp in-charge Rajendra Prasad Pani, basketball gained a lot through this effort as 58 youngsters within the age group of 10 to 16 years took to the game for the first time. ‘‘The camp helped the youngsters learn the basics of the game and fitness as well. They obtained lot of enjoyment, made friends and made good use of their summer vacation,’’ added Pani. ‘‘Among them, Sourav Nayak, Suraj Das, Animesh Sahu, Vighnesh, Chandrabhanu (all boys) and Ruchi Padhi, Abhipsa Pani, Aiswarya Pattnaik, Anima Arshad Pratyusha Soumya Saranya and Sunanda Panda (all girls) have the talent to become good players in the future,’’ said coach Rajesh Singh. ‘‘But the youngsters should not stop playing the game with the conclusion of the camp and should practice regularly to become good players,’’ suggested Smarita Samantaray, the lady coach of the camp.