Women's Basketball games held to help strengthen India-Bangladesh relations

While most of the country was recovering from a cricket hangover of probably the greatest night in India since the Independence night (oh, you don't know? We won the World Cup. Damn right), far away from the big cities of Mumbai and Delhi, away into the East of India in the state of Tripura, a basketball team of Indian Women from the North-East States took on a club side from Bangladesh in the first of three games, which were a step taken to improve relations between the two countries.

The game was held at North Eastern Region Capital Cities sports complex in Agartala, the capital of Tripura.

The State of Tripura - and as a matter of fact, several other Indian states, are situated across the Bangladesh divide - so the entire landmass of Bangladesh stands below a thin corridor of Indian land connecting Tripura to the rest of mainland India. The issues between India and Bangladesh may be relatively minor conflicts or tensions, at least relative to our other neighbours; nevertheless, these series of games seemed to be a nice gesture of friendship between the two countries.

Here's more about the event from DailyIndia.com:

Hundreds of fans thronged the venue to see the young women play basketball. In the recent past, both countries have been organizing many events that give people an opportunity to learn more about each other.

"Not only basketball, but similar matches should be there for other sports like football, cricket, hockey, badminton, boxing between the two nations, which I believe, shall help improve relations, said Ikbal Hossain, coach, BD Women Basketball Team.

"It's definitely important for improving the relationship between the two countries. I hope we are called again and I also want them to come to our country for both more matches," said Benazir, a Bangladeshi player.

"I came from Assam to play against Bangladesh. I enjoyed the matches while playing along with the players from Tripura. It offers a good scope to get acquainted with the Tripura girls and this shall also improve the relations between the two nations," said Malati, a player from Assam. In the last two years, both countries have signed many memorandums of understanding with each other to enhance trade between both sides.