Hopeful of finding a solution: Sharma

 With the hope of finding a solution to the problem that has hit basketball hard in the country, the K Govindraj-led faction of the Basketball Federation of India on Friday said that they had written to the opposing side twice in the past one month seeking a meeting to discuss the future course of action.

“We have written to both Poonam (Mahajan) and Roopam (Harish Sharma) twice (on June 1 and 15) in the past. But they haven’t responded yet,” said Chander Mukhi Sharma, the Secretary General of the Govindraj faction, which has been accorded recognition by the international body, the FIBA.

Sharma, who along with other officials met the Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal June 16, said that he was confident of finding a solution soon. “We met the Sports Minister on June 16 and placed the situation before him. The letter which they (Sports Ministry) had communicated (advising not to hold any official events) had one side of the story. So we have asked for an appointment to present our side of the story. But his feeling was now that FIBA has written to us, we should meet the other faction to discuss and find a solution,” he added.

Though the ministry had advised against conducting any official basketball event, Sharma sounded confident of hosting a successful South Asian Basketball Championship here next month. “The preparations are on. The national trials is on and in another 2-3 days you’ll have the final 16,” he said.  While three ONGC players — Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, Yadwinder Singh and Murli Krishnan — are yet to turn up, Sharma said the players would be given a chance if they could still make it. “Their parent organisation (ONGC) has not released them. But if they turn up before we wind up the selections, we will surely consider them,” he said.