Govindraj Faction sends letter stating their claim to the Basketball Federation of India (BFI)

For a while, the game of basketball had silenced the fight over basketball itself. While two factions fought among each other for rightful claim over the executive committee of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), domestic and international hoops events turned attention back to the sport itself, rather than the politics. If you recall, the BFI split into two fighting committees in March, one selected in Pune led by Poonam Mahajan and the other in Bengaluru led by K. Govindraj. With support from FIBA and the Delhi High Court decision, the Govindraj committee wrested some control of BFI activities and have since been organizing events in India and abroad.

Now, as the Mahajan faction prepares to fight back, Team Govindraj's General-Secretary Chander Mukhi Sharma has sent a letter entitled 'Facts of the Matter' (dated August 28, 2015) to the presidents and secretaries of all affiliated units of the BFI around the country to state their rightful claim over the governing body of basketball in India. Details of the letter are below:

Subject: Facts of the Matter (sent from the desk of BFI Secretary-General Chander Mukhi Sharma) to Presidents/Hon. Secretaries of all Affiliated Units of the Basketball Federation of India)

It is to inform all units of the Basketball Federation of India that some unscrupulous and disgruntled elements with vested interests are trying to damage the Basketball Game in India.

In order to remove the ambiguity the following points be noted by all concerned with the Basketball in India:

1. The Basketball Federation of India has been lawfully elected as per the Constitution of the Basketball Federation of India and the Model Election Guidelines of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 issued by Government of India at Bengaluru on 27th March 2015 under the observers appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, Government of Karnataka and International Basketball Federation (FIBA). 

2. Our elections have been upheld by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, as Justice Manmohan pointed out that it is only the President of the Basketball Federation of India who is to decide the time and venue of the elections as per the Constitution of the Basketball Federation of India.

3. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has duly recognized our executive vide letter dared 23rd May 2015 and we are fully authorized to carry out all activities in connection with the Basketball Game in India.

4. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India letter dated 12th June 2015 has been stayed by the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in our favor.

5. After getting the stay from the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court, the Basketball Federation of India have successfully carried out the following activities till date:

• a. International Teams National Coaching Camps and Competitions:
• i. National Coaching Camp for Senior Men in Preparation for 4th SABA Championship / Qualifying for the 28th FIBA Asia Championship for Men from 15th June to 2nd July 2015 and then again from 6th to 18th July in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• ii. 4th SABA Championship / Qualifying for the 28th FIBA Asia Championship for Men in Bengaluru, Karnataka from 3rd to 5th July 2015, where the Senior Men’s Team Won the Gold Medal, qualifying for the 28th FIBA Asia Championship for Men.
• iii. National Coaching Camp for Senior Men will re-start from 31st August and will continue through the event, 28th FIBA Asia Championship for Men, which will begin on 23rd September to 3rd October 2015 in Changsha, China.
• iv. National Team of Senior Men’s 3x3 recently participated and Won the Gold Medal at the SABA 3x3 World Tour Qualifier, qualifying for and participating in the 3x3 World Tour Event in Beijing, China on the 15th and 16th August 2015.
• v. Selection Trial and National Coaching Camps for U-16 Girls were conducted from 26th June to 30th July 2015 in Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida (UP) in preparation for the 4th FIBA Asia U-16 Championship for Girls.
• vi. The U-16 National Team participated in the 4th FIBA Asia U-16 Championship for Girls from 2nd to 9th August 2015 in Medan, Indonesia.
• vii. The Foreign Coach for Women and Girls, Francisco Garcia, whose services were arbitrarily terminated by the previous CEO of BFI, has been reappointed.
• viii. National Coaching Camp for Senior Women from 20th July to 18th August 2015 in preparation for 26th FIBA Asia Championship for Women in Wuhan, China from 29th August to 5th September.
• ix. National Team of Senior Women is currently in China for the 26th FIBA Asia Championship for women.
• b. The following National Championships shall be held as per the following schedule:
• i. 32nd Youth National Basketball Championship for Boys and Girls from 14th to 20th September 2015 at Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
• ii. 66th Junior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women from 2nd to 9th October 2015 at Ludhiana, Punjab.

6. Till now 21 States has confirmed their participation for 32nd Junior National Basketball Championship to be held at Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

 7. As per the past practice, the Players for the upcoming International events will be shortlisted on the basis of their performances in the National Championships only. It is pertinent to mention that no separate trials will be held for selecting the international teams. The BFI is planning on sending U-14, U-16 and U-18 National Teams on Exposure Trips abroad based on the selections from this National Championship.

The unscrupulous and disgruntled elements who are having vested interests are misleading everyone in the hope that the confusion created will stop the honest basketball activities in India that are being organized by the Basketball Federation of India. In fact, they have been quick to attempt to stop others from participating in various National and International Events, whereas we have not victimized any player/official/referee of the Country. Even the talented and deserving players from Maharashtra, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Kerala and West Bengal, have been able to represent Team India during the 4th FIBA Asia U-16 Championship for Girls at Medan, Indonesia; 26th FIBA Asia Championship for Women at Wuhan, China; 4th SABA Championship and the Senior Men FIBA 3x3 events at Colombo, Sri Lanka and Beijing, China.

However, the truth remains – the Basketball Federation of India will continue with all its events for the betterment of the game and the participants, ensuring that the players, coaches and referees will continue to obtain exposure domestically and abroad. We are committed to all the deserving and talented players/officials/referees/managers to provide all a chance to represent India.

We look forward for your continued support to develop the Basketball sport across India.

Your move, Team Mahajan.