Tamil Nadu girls eye podium
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There is an air of optimism in the Tamil Nadu women’s basketball camp. With just a fortnight to go for the national championship, the state hoopsters are sweating it out at the JJ Indoor Stadium with a hope to put their last year’s dismal show behind them. They finished a lowly seventh in Ludhiana.
Indian playmaker Anitha Pauldurai who represents Southern Railway is set to shift her loyalties to Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Thus, she could turn out for the state at the forthcoming nationals should the MTC hand over the appointment letter before the premier event. Having played for the country in numerous international events, Anitha’s inclusion will surely bolster TN’s confidence at the national championship that begins in New Delhi on December 27.
Coach M. Surendran says the girls have the potential to finish on the podium. “They are, no doubt, talented and one of the strong teams in the country. Railways have been dominating the nationals and Delhi have an array of international players in the line-up. If we get a favourable pool, we have a bright chance of finishing third. That’s our realistic target,” said Surendran.
Surendran, who represented Bihar in the ’70s, was a contemporary of former India star Sunil Kumar Panda. It was a comeback of sorts for the 59-year-old Surendran when the Coimbatore-based coach got a surprise call from the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association. TN women finished third at the millennium edition in New Delhi, where Surendran was in-charge of the side.
Surendran says the focus of the camp is on tactics. “Since we have a little time to prepare, our concentration is more on strategies. We are also putting more emphasise on fitness,” he said.
“The camp started at the earnest on December 7 and we will be leaving for Delhi on December 21. We are reaching the venue a week in advance to get acclimatized to the conditions. The weather in the capital is extremely cold. So our players will find it difficult to adjust to it,” added the coach.
Surendran singles out young Salem girl Raja Priyadharshini as the team’s lynchpin. “She is fresh from the Asian Games. I hope her China experience will come handy at the nationals. She is tall and quite effective on both sides of the court,” he said.
Those who follow the sport know that TN’s forte is their strong fundamental skills. But Surendran says the art is dying. “Nowadays coaches who are in-charge at grassroots level are not giving much importance to basics such as foot movements and dribbling. It’s more of a physical game these days,” he added.
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