Railways pulls out of National Basketball Championship

The Railways has pulled out of the National Basketball Championship to be staged in Puducherry from January 7 to 14, as it has not been able to meet the basic requirements of membership of the Basketball Federation of India.

Thus, the national championship will not only have the Railways teams, but also any Railways player in any of the teams.

The Railways has pulled out of the National Basketball Championship to be staged in Puducherry from January 7 to 14, as it has not been able to meet the basic requirements of membership of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

Apart from the membership fee, there was also a hitch regarding the selection of players who had been suspended by the BFI for defying the orders and participating in the UBA Championship earlier in the season.

As expected, the Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPC) has written to all its 31 units across the country, categorically specifying that it had been decided not to release any player or official to represent the States.

Thus, the national championship will not only have the Railways teams, but also any Railways player in any of the teams, who would have otherwise been given a "no objection certificate" to represent the various State units.

All the units of the Railways have been asked to strictly follow the order, issued with the consent of competent authority, and that defaulters would face disciplinary action.

Sailing in the same boat, the Services has reportedly sought time for another day to decide its course of action.