From 2 centres to 34, Jr. NBA programme spreads its wings

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 The programme is a comprehensive youth development initiative that aims to develop the game at the grassroot level and positively impact the lives of boys and girls in India. Since its launch in 2013, the programme has reached more than 10 million youth from 13,000 schools across 34 cities and trained more than 13,000 physical education instructors nationwide.

 We launched the programme in 2013 in two cities and in our seventh year now, we have spread across 34 cities. The challenge has been to cater to the increasing demand as participants request us to conduct the programme in more cities. We get such requests every year and try our best to increase the footprint across the country.

 The first-ever NBA game in India between Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers on October 4, 2019, was played in front of 3,000 boys and girls from more 70 schools in Mumbai, who are part of the programme. 13 boys from the programme have made it to the NBA Academy India, our player development centre in New Delhi. Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and 3,459 Indian children from the program set a Guinness World Record on July 28, 2017, for the world’s largest basketball lesson (multiple venues), in New Delhi.

 Returning for the seventh consecutive year, the 2020 edition is expected to engage more than 7 million youths and 8,000 physical education instructors. The programme has already tipped off in over 20 cities. We are conducting the programme using the existing infrastructure in schools, stadiums and grounds and with the support of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

 The core idea is to take the programme across the country by going to as many citiesas possible. We have kept adding cities every year and stakeholders have welcomed our effortswholeheartedly.