Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Nagpur, The International Basketball Federation’s (Fiba) announcement to allow players to wear religious headgear may have come a little too late for Amritpal and Amjyot Singh. The Sikh players, who were asked by organizers to remove their turbans before their opening match at the Asia Cup Basketball Championship in Wuhan (China) in July, chose to cut their hair prior to boarding the flight to Incheon for the Asian Games on Wednesday.
It is reliably learnt that both players will continue to wear their turbans, but now won’t be needing patkas during their matches. The duo chose to avoid questions on why they opted for a haircut, but was relieved with Fiba’s decision to allow religious headgear.
“I woke up this morning and was pleasantly surprised with the news that Fiba has reversed the turban ban. I am grateful for the support from all quarters,” Amritpal said. “We have been saved from any future humiliation,” Amjyot added.
Top sources in the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), however, confirmed the development and said they took the decision to shed their hairs on their own and turban won’t be an issue at Asiad.
With no exposure trips before the all important event, a confident Indian contingent boarded the flight to Korea on Wednesday night.
Squad For Asiad:
Men: Joginder Singh, Narender Kumar Grewal, Akilan Pari, Prakash Mishra, Pratham Singh, Vishesh Briguvanshi, Amritpal Singh, Prasanna Venkatesh Sivakumar, Palpreet Singh Brar, Amjyot Singh, Yadwinder Singh, Rikin Pethani. Coach: Scott Flemming.
Women: Akanksha Singh, Kavita Akula, Kavita Kumari, KS Poojamol, Raspreet Sidhu, Prashanti Singh, Smruthi Radhakrishnan, R Rajapriyadharshini, Jeena Skaria, Stephy Nixon, Kruthika Lakshman. Coach: Francisco Garcia.
