District Basketball Asociations

Kottayam District Basketball Association was formed in 1957 with Sri. Varkey George (Ex. Member of Parliament), (MD AVG Group) as President and Sri. Jacob Thomas as Secretary. Kottayam has a vibrant past in Basketball with its history traced back to the early thirties. The European missionaries and their institutions have to a large extend paved the way for the growth of the game in this soil. The YMCA had the pioneering role in the promotion of Basketball in the pre-independent era. The premier educational institutions like the CMS college also encouraged the game in these decades. The unreserved support and patronage of the YMCA made the game most popular among the youth of the town. Soon the game spread to nearby educational institutions in the town which made extra effects in promoting the game among the students.

A high profile team was maintained at Kottayam YMCA from the fifties. There were also good teams at CMS College and St. Berchmans College Changanacherry during the early periods. All India tournament was conducted at Kottayam from 1948 onwards. The Kottayam team under the aegis of YMCA maintained a high performance throughout these years, and it was adjudged the best team in Travancore-Cochin State. Messers P.M. Thomas, Jacob Thomas and Joseph Sam were the backbone of the Kottayam team during the early fifties. In the later years Messers KK Zachariah, CM Philip, T.C. Thomas, Jacob Varkey and John Thomas joined the fray and provided a strong base for the state team.

Mr. Joseph Sam had an exceptional career in basketball. He was the member of the National team for 7 years, and served as the State coach for about a decade before he joined the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, as a faculty. He was instrumental in making the game popular at Kottayam imparting coaching to numerous basketballers of the later generations. An all Kerala Tournament was held in floodlit court at Kottayam in these early years and attracted huge crowds from far and near.

Messers K.K. Zachariah, and C.M. Philip served as secretaries of the Association for long terms during the 1960’s and 70’s. The latter was the Joint Secretary to the KBA at that time.

Some of the outstanding players of the sixties and seventies were Messers V.M. James, Babu Jacob, Hally Itty Ipe, A.M. Iqbal and Cherian Oommen. They were the mainstay of the state team during that period. Mr. A.M. Iqbal, for sometime the youngest member of the Indian team, is still regarded as a prodigy among basketballers. He was the secretary of KDBA during 1985 – 88. Mr. Thomas P. Kalarickal was a member of the youth Indian team in 1987 and later played in the senior state team in later years.

Mr. Monish Wilson is another basketball star of the latest generation. He was the Junior Indian Captain and took part in several International Championships. He is a Senior State Player. Miss. Geethu Anna Jose is another sensation from among the girls of Kottayam. She captained the National Junior Team and took part in several International Championships. She is now a member of the Indian Women team.

The office bearers of the Association from 1982.

Some of the outstanding players from Kottayam who made their mark in the State Teams.

1980’s: Men – Idiculla T. Paul, Shaji Jacob Kurian, Raju Abraham, Ajikumar, Sijimon George Kareethra, Siraj, Saji Abraham, Saju P. Mathew, Thomas Chandy, Harish P.B., J. Mathews, Bobby T. Philip

Women – Joshiamma George, Bindhu Rajappan, Suma Joseph, Nisha Annie Jacob, Rogy Rose Mathew, Manju M. Pillai, Jinu Chacko, Annamma Mathew, Yamuna K. Philip.

1990’s: Men – Bobby Kurian, Thomas P. Kalarickal, Joymon Joseph, Thomas Chandy, Shiji Kurian, Sam Jose Thomas, Biju Joseph, Sabu Thomas, Dimal C. Mathew, Shaiju S., Jose Philip, Vinod Rockey, Subash J. Shenoy, Babu Davis.

Women: Sindhu M. Nair, Priya Chacko, Swapana Cherian, Sheena Shams, Sandhya P.V., Deepthimol V.T., Philomina Joseph, Juby Varghese, Vimitha Salam, Ambili Thomas, Priya James, Seetha S. Lakshmi, Riya Mathew, Rollin Sara Kuruvilla, Linda T.S., Somini E.S.

2000’s: Boys – Monish Wilson, Vipin M., Smithin Markose Settu, Vivek V., Ajeesh P.V., Jiju John, Nikhil Idiculla Sunny, Aron Augustine, Raigu Uthup Cherian, Nirmal K. Mathew, Arun P.S., Jithu Jacob Varghese, Albin Baby, Anandu Sugunan, Jobin Varghese, Ramsey, Victor Jose

Girls: Shency Xavier, Jomit Abraham, Susan Mathew, Priyankamol Kuruvilla, Leena Mariam Baby, Geethu Anna Jose, Diana P. Mathew, Victoria P. Mathew, Akhila Kamal, Cuckoo Anna Baby, Nimmy Thomas, Susan Mary Jose, Shenu K. Chandy, Shani, Anu K.S., Remyamol P.S., Anna Maria Sajeev, Pooja N. Nair, Shija Joseph, Hashi Mathew, Aleena, Nennumol P.S., Libiya Varghese.

State Championships conducted in Kottayam after 1990.

1.  1990- January 3 – 7 Junior State at YMCA.

2.  1991- February 1 – 4 Subjunior State at Girideepam School.

3.  1995 – February 3-6 Junior State at Girideepam School.

4.  1999-April 14 – 18 Youth State at Hindustan Newspint Velloor.

5.  2000-April Youth State at Girideepam School

6.  2001 December 3-8 Senior State at Marangattupilly.

7.  2005 – May 3-8 Youth State at Lourdes School Kottayam.

The game picks up in the district very fast and now we have teams in as many as 30 schools and about 15 college / club teams. Being one of the best nurseries of basketballers in the state, Kottayam holds the records for the most number of tournaments conducted each year—17 of them in all. Besides a supportive public, we have many amateur coaches who have greatly contributed to the development of the game over the years. We are grateful to Sri N. J. Rajan, Sri. Samuel P.Varkey, Sri. A Rajamon, and Sri. R. Venugopal for their exemplary work as coaches for the district teams.

Presently we continue to get the support from Sri. Aji Thomas, Sri. Biju D. Theman, Sri. Johnson Mathew, Sri. Kiran H., Sri. Ratheesh Abraham and Sri. Biju Antony.

The KDBA has always provided unstinted support to the institutions and clubs in their efforts to promote the game. Recently we were able to reconstruct the court at Nehru Stadium with the support of Kottayam Municipality. We have envisaged a detailed project to revive the game in the District. The KDBA is all set to forge ahead with greater vigour and resolve under the dynamic leadership of our President Sri. George Jacob Purackal to bring basketball back to the forefront in Kottayam. We are hopeful that the bright years of basketball are just round the corner.