RECEPTION WITH A DIFFERENCE KIND GESTURE FROM THE SENIORS
14/02/2017
It was rare seen in the field of Basketball that two generation of winners assembling & sharing pleasantries later joining together is always a great sight, This Meeting of two generation was arranged by the 1st Ever Women National Champions of Kerala (1984 Cuttack Nationals) as they joined along with Regional Sports Centre, Cochin and Ernakulam District Basketball Association felicitated the present Kerala Women’s Basketball Team that won the title after a gap of 32 years during National Basketball Championships held at Pondicherry as both assembled here at the Rajiv Gandhi AC Indoor hall in Kadavanthara Kochi on last Saturday 11th February 2017.
The young team that won the recent championship had arrived in full strength, while the seniors missed three of the stalwarts, Dr Raji Thampi the captain who captained the side was no more, Dr Nisha Aniie Jacob who was in Gulf & Prasanna kumara (Jaya Sankar) who could not be relieved due to UBA pro-League Those who came includes Emily K Mathew Molly Augustine, Jaya Kumari, Mercyamma Sebastian, Sheebamma Augustine, Joshiamma George Renny M Vincent , Ancy Mathew and Bindu Rajapan who flown all the way from Kolkata to attend the function K V Alexander the former International from AIR Force and was coach was the coach at that time was the coach with Kerala Sports Council working that time with St Therese’s College Ernakulam and also Antony Stephan the helm –with present was also present
The coaches who coached the 84 batch at school/colleges also attended the function which includes International Coach and Referee Thomas J Fenn, Alappuzha Raveendra Alappuzha, C C Annamma, V V Paul and C P Michael
Molly Mathew on behalf of the 84batch recollected the journey to the title – as they reached attack, it was cold and had no expectation about the medal and at the first game was humbled by Punjab by 19 points then as they pulled string there onwards trembling Tamil Nadu, semi finalDelhi and Maharashtra semi-final defeating Indian Railways to Meet Punjab again. In the final punajb had made their home work to bottle Dr Raji Thampi , who was a player who plays equally on both sides and also used both hands for shots. Then also one change on the starting line up to put Joshyamma who had entrusted for guarding the prolific player of Punjab in place of Emily but Punjab started with 7-0 lead again Alex sir pulled renny and put emilly back and she made two three pointers and and made Kerala back in to the track and by the time others also rose on to the occasion to beat Punjab by 19 points to make the ever first title for Kerala.
The function was chaired by P J Sunny and the chief guest of the day was Shri K Mohammed Y Safulla IAS Collector of Erankulum and welcomed by SAS Navas Hony Secretary RSC and felicitation includes Sri KV Alexander, the coach, Molly Mathew representing 1984 batch Mohammed Iqbal former international and President Team Rebound, KA Raju President Ernakulum district Basketball Assocation and Vote of Thanks by Adv KA Salim.
On behalf of the Kerala team Antony Stephan and Athira M the captain in the reply Speech believes the current batch has been so successful as they stayed together for close two years now.
Those who present also includes Internationals V.V Harilal, Leelamma Thomas, C V Sunny, Subash J Sheoy, Indulekha etc International Referee Fr Philips Wadakae kalam and an array of former state and University Players Vetran Players V T Xavier, Om Kumar, Hally Itty Ipe etc
