Former Indian women basketball team captain Divya Singh was impressed with the talent level exhibited by the top 18 female prospects currently receiving training at the basketball development program as part of the NBA Academies Women’s Camp being held at The NBA Academy India in Greater Noida from May 27-29. The prospects took the court to learn from 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Jennifer Azzi, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley, former WNBA player Ebony Hoffman and former college coach Blair Hardiek, along with Singh.
As part of the program, the coaching staff also shared insights with the campers about their professional and personal experiences that helped them achieve success on and off the court. Former Indian tennis player Tanvi Shah joined the panel to speak about the impact and achievements of women athletes in India. Indian women’s basketball player Raspreet Sindhu, who has represented India for over a decade, was on hand to share her advice to overcome challenges as an athlete.
“What we have witnessed in the last couple of days shows great potential for the future of women’s basketball in India. This camp shows them a pathway for success and should do a world of good to their confidence,” said Singh.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Jeniffer Azzi and Two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley, who are leading this program in India were also happy with the talent at the Camp. “This camp serves as a platform to help take them to the next level. My advice to all the campers would be to build upon this experience and also inspire their peers to take up basketball,” said Azzi.
Riley felt the prospects showed a lot of promise at the camp and have a great future ahead of them. “The girls have the talent to move up the ladder of success. They can be the ones who can break the glass ceiling and become the face of women’s basketball in India in the years to come,” said Riley.
The campers return for the third and last day of the camp tomorrow, May 29 at 10:00 AM.
Photo Caption: IMG 1995 - Action from Day 2 of The NBA Academies Women’s Program at The NBA Academy India on Monday, May 28 2018.