Morung express News
Mokokchung | December 13
The 1st Nagaland Open Basketball Championship organised by the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD) in collaboration with the Nagaland Basketball Association (NBA) got underway at Imkongmeren Sports Complex Basketball Court, Mokokchung on December 13.
Sentinungsang Longkumer, General Secretary, Nagaland Basketball Association graced the occasion as the special guest. Longkumer appreciated the seven teams participating in the first ever Nagaland Open Basketball tournament. He also appreciated the BAMD for its speedy formation and getting affiliated to the NBA. He lauded the BAMD for organising such an event when it was needed. He believes that such organization will lead to productive talents even at the national levels.
He also stated that the NBA was stagnant for quite some time but now efforts are being made to go beyond at the Northeast level as well as National level in the immediate future. He also informed that the NBA is planning to promote basketball in the state through various under- 14 and under-16 inter-school basketball tournaments.
He further highlighted the NBA’s three objectives to promote basketball in the state— good referees and coaches with good infrastructures. He said that quality coaches are required who should have good knowledge of the game and give a fair conduct of the game. In this regard, he urged the BAMD to work towards producing quality coaches and striving towards excellence.
Terming Mizoram as one of the best in basketball in the northeast, he said the Nagaland state could also do it, if only efforts are given. He also advised the players to aspire to make a career out of the initiatives taking place.
All together seven teams are participating in the tournament with five teams from Kohima and two teams from Mokokchung district.
The first match was played between Team Coyotes (Mokokchung) and Team Orca (Kohima).
