Hundreds join Indian Basketball Players Association for 'Dribblathon' in New Delhi

Photo credit: Ekalavyas

Imagine the scene in front of one of India's most iconic monuments, the India Gate. Imagine a beautiful clear morning in the nation's capital in New Delhi. Imagine some of the country's most legendary basketball players with young enthusiasts just a day after the National Sports Day at this venue. And finally, imagine hundreds of basketballs being dribbled to showcase that the nation is ready for a hoops revolution.

Now imagine, all those images coming to reality.

On Sunday, August 30, the Indian Basketball Players Association (IBPA) organized the first-ever 'Dribblathon', held between the India Gate and the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. About 400 basketball players, including former stars, school and college students showed up to participate in the event. The young players dribbled a basketball for about a kilometer to support basketball and drive home the point of healthy living, wrote The Hindu.

Photo credit: Ekalavyas

The event featured Arjuna awardees Surender Khataria, Ajmer Singh, Suman Sharma, former India captains Jayasankar Menon, Shiba Maggon, Divya Singh, Pratima Singh, Prashanti Singh, and other international players like Roopam Mongia, Vidya Ramnarayanan, Balakrishnan, Harish Mayor and Anil Gulati. The Noida-based Dribble Academy also held a dribbling demonstration.

Indian Basketball Players Association to organize 'Dribblathon' in New Delhi - UPDATE

"Just imagine a shot in front of the India Gate," says Jayasankar Menon, an Indian basketball legend and president of the recently-formed Indian Basketball Players Association (IBPA), "The 'Dribblathon' will be flagged off at the National Stadium, go through the inner road of the India Gate, and come back to the National Stadium. Almost 600 players have confirmed to be out there dribbling."

With a few words, Menon has painted a beautiful basketball picture; next week, the IBPA will be hoping that their imagination can evolve into a beautiful basketball reality in the nation's capital. Hundreds of basketballs, dribbling through one of the most iconic and recognizable symbols of India.

The IBPA will be hosting the first-ever 'Dribblathon' from the Dhyan Chand National Stadium to the India Gate and back in New Delhi (UPDATE - Date/Time have been since suspended by IBPA). The IBPA will be hosting this event to promote basketball, project India's basketball legends, and also celebrate Satnam Singh's entry into the NBA. As Menon said, close to 600 players have already registered to take part in his historic event.

"The national stadium was the venue of first Asian Games inauguration," Menon added, "And we want IBPA first public event to be kicked off from same venue."

You can email the IBPA at ibpaindia@gmail.com to register.

UPDATE: IBPA President Jayasankar Menon has announced, in respect for the passing of India's former president APJ Abdul Kalam, the Dribblathon will be suspended. With Independence Day celebrations coming in mid-August, the IBPA will reschedule and announce the new date/time for the event soon.