India looking skywards as time ticks down

BENGALURU (FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017) - Host nation India are out for promotion at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup and already within touching distance of assembling their final roster as excitement grows.

Head coach Paramdeep Singh is benefitting from an in-depth and highly valued preparation programme, which has tipped off several months prior to the tournament in Bengaluru.

Joined by his assistant Shiba Maggon, Coach Singh and the players went to work at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium as they engaged in a vital phase of preparation ahead of trying to bounce back from relegation two years ago.

"In Indore, we pruned a 44-member camp and now have set up base here in Bengaluru to begin our final stretch of preparations," said Singh. "In between, we will leave for Chinese Taipei to compete in the William Jones Cup in June, but our overall focus will be on the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.

"Our aim is to win promotion to A Division and I feel with the squad we have, our chances are much better than last time. Shiba and I have some game plans and strategies in place for the girls and we are confident that we'll get back to the top division."

Hopes are high that rising stars such as Jeena Scaria and HM Bhandavya will make a splash, although much will hinge on veteran campaigners such as Anitha Pauldurai.

"Anitha is very hardworking and still has the drive to excel," added Singh. "Hopefully if she keeps herself fit, it will be a big boost for India. Her experience will be an advantage for us. With the set of players we have, our emphasis will be to find a winning combination. We will also look to work on our game awareness."

There is also going to be an exciting injection of talent with the USA-based Kavita Akula and Barkha Sonkar, who were awarded scholarships at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida - as well as Anmolpreet Kaur, who is on a high school basketball scholarship in Japan.

India have been drawn in Group A and will face American Samoa, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

FIBA