Interview: Focus on beating top Asian teams, says India’s ace women cager Geethu Anna Jose

The 6ft 2inch Kerala girl cites her own example as to how basketball players have often got a raw deal. “Indian Railways have been supporting me a lot over the years. But having played for India for so many years I still don’t have a sponsor; I have struggled so much to reach where I’m today. In India, youngsters take up basketball for the passion and pride to represent the country one day and not for money. We don’t get match fees for playing for the country but we take immense pride in donning the national colours.”

Geethu is also the captain of the Indian senior women’s basketball team which is ranked 40^th in the FIBA rankings. Interestingly, the national women cagers are ranked higher than our men who are placed 58^th. What needs to be done to bridge the gap with the top women basketball sides like Australia, USA and Russia? “We first need to focus on the top Asian teams who are ranked in the top-25 bracket. China (world no.8), South Korea (11^th ranked), Japan (18^th ranked) and Chinese Taipei (25^th ranked) are the Asian powerhouses; we must look to raise our game and start beating them or at least give them a run for their money before we can think of beating teams like Australia, USA and Russia,” she says matter-of-factly.

The gangling cager touched a new career high when she featured in Australia’s Big V league for Ringwood Hawks during the 2006-08 period. “It was a fantastic experience for me. Australian basketball has extremely high standards. The Aussies play so many tournaments and have such an organized training schedule that we can learn so much from them. Sponsors also support them a lot. I really wish more Indian youngsters play in Australia so that they can improve themselves by leaps and bounds,” she recall.

Geethu also played in the inaugural women’s professional basketball league in Thailand last year. “Thailand has started taking up basketball, the experience was different from the one in Australia.”

The seasoned hoopster says she is getting offers to play in foreign league, but is yet to take a call on it. “I have got offers from Qatar and Iraq but I’m yet to decide on it. Ideally, I would like to help more youngsters to play in foreign leagues as it can help raise the Indian basketball standards in a big way,” she fires a parting shot.