SAG: Basketball competitions scrapped

The conduct of the event had become untenable in the wake of the instructions issued by the International Basketball Federation, FIBA, on February 2, taking cognisance of the Indian Olympic Association’s interference into the matters of the Basketball Federation of India and the selection of the Indian teams for the Games.

Basketball competitions at the South Asian Games were a non-starter following FIBA sanctions.

The basketball competitions of the 12th South Asian Games, which was scheduled to be held between February 10 and 15, have been scrapped.

The conduct of the event had become untenable in the wake of the instructions issued by the International Basketball Federation, FIBA, on February 2, taking cognisance of the Indian Olympic Association’s interference into the matters of the Basketball Federation of India and the selection of the Indian teams for the Games.

However, both the IOA and the Organising Committee were hopeful of finding out a suitable solution to overcome the embarrassment of scrapping the tournament. The two bodies had initially worked on conducting an unrecognised tournament and thereafter a friendly series between the participating countries. But then, with the threat of sanctions and possible disaffiliation from the world body, none of the countries were willing to take part in either the unrecognised tournament or in the friendly series.

A final call on the matter was thus taken on Tuesday in a meeting between the top brass of the IOA and the Organising Committee, before the formal announcement was made in the evening by the Games’ CEO, Injeti Srinivasan.