NBA stars tour India for 'Basketball without Borders' programme

New Delhi, July 6 (ANI): Stars of the celebrated US basketball league National Basketball Association (NBA), currently touring India for 'Basketball without Borders' programme, pitched for the game in the cricket crazy nation.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function hosted here on July 5, retired American professional basketball player in the NBA, Jacques Dominique Wilkins said that such programmes would popularize the game in India.

When asked about their agenda on the visit, Wilkins said, "Just to introduce basketball on an international level and to introduce it at different places. Kids have an opportunity to educate themselves about the game."

Apart from NBA stars Wilkins and Sam Perkins, the current stars who are accompanying them include Linton Johnson, Kyle Korver, Pat Garrity and Ronny Turiaf.

The 'Basketball without Borders' Asia camp is being held in New Delhi from July 3 to July 6.

This camp that marks the NBA's first event in India, brings together the top 50 basketball junior players from across Asia to participate in a basketball instruction and competition led by NBA players and coaches.

So far, more than 250 former and current NBA players from 30 different countries have become the members of the NBA, which has imparted training to youth in more than 100 countries. Last year, the programme 'Basketball without Borders' was organized in China, Brazil, France and South Africa. (ANI)