BFI announces 12-member girls’ squad for U16 FIBA Asia Championship

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has announced the 12-member roster of U16 girls who will represent India at the 2nd U16 FIBA Asia Championship for Girls, slated to be held from December 4-11, 2011 at Jinan, China.

The squad will be led by coach Vinod Vachani, and will feature some of the best young Indian talent from across the country. The team consists of upcoming stars such as Kerala’s Poojamol KS, Maharashtra’s Shireen Limaye, Chhattisgarh’s Poonam Chaturvedi, and the duo of Barkha Sonkar and Kavita Akula, who are students of the IMG Basketball Academy in the USA.

The Indian delegation will be accompanied by two coaches, a physiotherapist, and FIBA Referee Norman Isaac.

India U16 Girls Team

Barkha Sonkar (Uttar Pradesh / IMG Academy)

Elizabeth Hilarious (Kerala)

Ishwari Pingle (Maharahstra)

Kavita Akula (Chhattisgarh / IMG Academy)

Kirubanandhan Devirajalakshmi (Tamil Nadu)

Krittika Divadkar (Maharashtra)

Madhu Kumari (West Bengal)

Poojamol KS (Kerala)

Poonam Chaturvedi (Chhattisgarh)

Sangeeta Kaur (Chhattisgarh)

Sharanjeet Kaur (Chhattisgarh)

Shireen Limaye (Maharashtra)

Head Coach: Vinod Vachani

Coach: Shiba Maggon

Physiotherapist: Sudhir Singh Rathore

FIBA Referee: Norman Swaroop Isaac

India have been drawn in ‘Elite Level 1’ of the 2nd FIBA Asia Championship, along with defending champions and hosts China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Korea, and the Philippines.