Missing passport scares city hoopster

The announcement was in New Delhi where the final camp before selection was held. Muin’s joy was short-lived as he found later that his passport, which was kept in his hostel room in the Jeppiaar Institute of Technology in Chennai, was missing. From then on, it was a desperate run for the Chennai-based hoopster to organize a duplicate passport. And he would have missed his maiden appearance for the Indian team in a quality event but for the intervention of his friends and college officials in Chennai. 

“It was great that I made it to the team,” said Muin on arrival in Chennai to complete the formalities to get his passport ready. “Luckily, the Regional Passport Officer has promised to issue it on Friday so that I can report in New Delhi on May 17 to go with the team,” said Muin. The event starts in Maldives on May 19.

For the record, Chennai has six hoopsters in the Indian team of 12 for the Asian event, a new high. Rikin Pethani, Akilan (Income Tax), Prasanna Venkatesh, Jeevanandan (IOB), Bala Dhaneswaran and Muin Bek make the Indian team from the city to join Vishesh Briguvanshi, Amritpal Singh, Yadweender Singh, Arjun, Ravi and Anil. 

Probably, the Indian team could have seven players from Chennai if Arvind Annadurai of IOB was fit for selection. 

“He is out of selection because of injury,” said Muin. Star player Amjyot Singh had not reported for the Indian camp as he is committed to playing in a professional league.

This was not the first overseas tour for Muin Bek as he was part of a JIT team that was sent for a five-week training by his college to Florida last year around the same time.