Interview: "Players from Kashmir have wrong technique"- NRI Basketball player Shahid Ahmad Bhat

Shahid Ahmad Bhat at a school in Srinagar.

Some basketball fans in India may be familiar with the name Shahid Ahmad Bhat. He is an American-born basketball player who has been coming to Srinagar and Delhi for the past 5 years to get involved in basketball and meet players. His most recent trip was in April-May 2013. Following are the excerpts from the interview he gave in his hometown of Kansas, USA.

Q: What is your background like?

A: My mother and father are Kashmiris who moved to USA in the early 1970s. I was born and brought up there, and started playing basketball at a young age.

Q: What brought you to Kashmir?

A: My family brought me to Kashmir my whole life. But in terms of basketball, in 2009, I decided to try to play basketball overseas, and I thought India would be the perfect place because of its size, and the fact that my parents were born and brought up there, and I had a home in Srinagar. I also wanted to use basketball to explore the world and have new experiences.

Q: How did that go?

A: At times well, at other times not very smoothly. First, I found out the set up for Basketball in India is different than USA, so I had to study up on the system. Then I found out that the State Association for Basketball in Jammu and Kashmir is located in Jammu, not Srinagar. I also found out there were no club teams or tournaments being organized in Kashmir for basketball players like myself. In fact, I couldn’t even find a basketball court to practice, at first.

Q: How did you respond to these adversities?

A: I later found out that there were basketball courts at the area high schools and I wanted to use them for practice. But while asking permission, I was enlisted as a volunteer coach instead, since I was told there was a lack of coaches in Kashmir. So I found myself trying to show players what the correct technique was for basketball, instead of concentrating on my own practice.

Q: This must have been a great source of frustration to you.

A: It was more like a great learning experience for me. I had been so used to the American system of basketball, which is very well organized and well run, to something which was the opposite. Plus in this way, I got an education on basketball in Kashmir and met all the area players.

Q: Didn’t you also organize some events?

A: Yes, several tournaments and a league, and also quite a few training sessions.

Q: Do you plan on continuing that?

A: As far as organizing is concerned, no. Organizing of basketball events is the job of a sports body. And as far as large scale training is concerned, probably not. I was just doing that to keep busy and meet people.

Q: What about playing for the J & K state team?

A: I was able to meet and play with members of the J & K state team, so I’m familiar with them and the coach. There is only one tournament I was interested in playing in, the Indian Senior Nationals, but I haven’t been playing for them officially and won’t be.

Q: Any reason why?

A: First off, the timing is bad, because the tournament is in January, and at that time of the year I am in USA busy with my work and personal training. Also, although the idea of playing in an overseas tournament was exciting to me at first, gradually I realized the local tournaments or leagues in USA were of a higher calibre, and also much easier to play in and enjoy. So I lost the interest to represent J & K state. Possibly, I was never eligible as an American citizen, but I never received confirmation on that rule.

Q: How did you perform against the J & K team when you played with them?

A: There are good players from Jammu, better than those from Srinagar, but I was the top player in the practice sessions. I would’ve been the top player on the team, no doubt. However, I also had a communication problem with them, since I spoke a different language.

Q: How is the J & K team in basketball?

A: On the women and youth sides, they are at the bottom of India. On the senior men’s side, slightly better. The better players are probably in Jammu rather than Srinagar. There are some players in J & K who have played basketball for many years and have good size, but J & K is one of the weakest states in India in basketball and the J & K men’s team hasn’t medalled or come close to doing so.

Q: What is the state of basketball in Kashmir?

A: Over last five years, I have been coming to Kashmir for basketball, and I’ve spoken to many people, including the media who have told me the same thing: “Basketball is not a popular sport in the valley, it has no scope and support.” At first I would’ve agreed but now I believe it’s not accurate.

Q: Can you explain what you mean?

A: Basketball is one of the oldest and most popular and most played sports in Srinagar. There are over 20 basketball courts in the city. Most young people grow up playing basketball in their schools, and there are many tournaments organized throughout the year. There are the inter-schools, the districts, there are school tournaments, there are JKBA teams to try out for and attend India tournaments and there have even been events I organized for the past three years, called SKBA.

The events go back for many years, since the 1970s at least. It’s a misconception that basketball is not a popular sport. These days, with the technology, many young players follow American Professional Basketball and can watch coaching drills on the internet.

Q: So then what is the problem with basketball?

A: There has never been a basketball player from Kashmir who reached a high level in the game. The problem is, first off, that there is a total lack of talented basketball players in Kashmir, and second, there is a total lack of understanding of what it means to be talented in basketball. When you consider yourself talented already, even if you are not, then you will not have the motivation to work as hard in this difficult game to advance your skills.

Q: But don’t you consider yourself to be talented as well, just like you say they do?

A: When I first took up the sport, and for the years until I learned how to play well, I was not talented. I was my own harshest critic. I didn’t realize I was talented until I was 15 years old when I started attending basketball camps and performing well against top players. I was highly motivated to improve.

Q: Could you explain what a talented basketball player is?

A: In USA and other countries with a strong basketball program, there is a standard for being on a basketball team. When the Coach or Scout watches the player, he is looking for ability to shoot, dribble, pass, play defence and have athletic ability. If you can do these things well, then you are considered for a spot on the team, depending on your attitude also.

Q: And in Kashmir?

A: Since 2009, I have met or seen every basketball player in Kashmir. They use the wrong techniques for playing the game. Even though hundreds of Kashmiris play basketball, there are only a handful who understand what correct mechanics of playing basketball are. Mechanics are actually simple to learn, but that requires discipline.

Q: How are you so sure they are using bad playing methods and that the standard is low?

A: As far as I know, the technique is wrong; it’s the opposite of what coaches teach in USA. It’s the opposite of what good players use starting at a young age.

Q: Isn’t this due to lack of coaching?

A: Maybe somewhat, but mostly it’s due to a lack of players learning for themselves. The talent level is low. Also there have been many basketball coaches in J & K and none of them have been able to make much progress in developing young players skills. The BFI has never selected a boy’s basketball player from Kashmir for any national level training camps. Only Dr. Zeenat Farooq Khan earned that honour on the girls’ side in the 80s.

Q: What about the players in Delhi?

A: I met a lot of talented basketball players in Delhi. I was training with some of the players who represent Delhi University and the Delhi senior national team. Also, I was going to Siri Fort to get in a few games and practice sessions. I enjoyed going there to get some good competition and make friends.

Q: Didn’t you start a pro team called F23BCI in India? What happened to that?

A: I still go to Delhi and meet players and try to see if I can put together a club team. However, there are few open tournaments which are of a high level, for a team like ours to participate in. Most tournaments in India are “inter tournaments.” It was an idea I had that I still believe in, but until I can find someone to help me with the project, it is too overwhelming for one person to handle, especially an NRI who doesn’t speak Hindi.

Q: What is your level of play like?

A: I go by what my coaches, team-mates and opponents have told me throughout my career. I’ve always been told I was a good player and my performances have backed that up, whether it was in high school, college, or wherever. However, I am not a professional basketball player. I think my mechanics and skill level are good, but my size and athletic ability are average. But I have always tried to make up for lack of size and speed with good fundamentals, footwork and basketball IQ.

Q: What about the mentality of the players in Kashmir?

A: The mentality of the players is the biggest obstacle we have to overcome if we want to see the standard of the game improve. Like I said before, there are actually only a few players in Srinagar who are both talented and intelligent about the sport of basketball. The others fall short for various reasons. Mainly, they don’t play or practice basketball with the correct mechanics and mental approach. But like I said before, most of them aren’t concerned with these things, because they have a lot of tournaments to play in which don’t require a high standard to participate in.

Q: Have you had any bad experiences with basketball in Kashmir which have made you bitter?

A: I have had bad experiences in the USA too. I have had both good and bad experiences everywhere I have been. Now I know the status of basketball in Kashmir and what the challenges are for it.

Q: What are your plans for coming to Kashmir in the future?

A: To be completely honest, when I first came to Kashmir I envisioned it being different than what I found it to be. I thought there would be more basketball players than there actually are. It’s impossible to find any good competition to play against. There are no tournaments for me to show my level. It’s just me and two or three of my friends on a court playing informal games. That has kind of lost its charm. It’s also difficult to even access a court, and even if you do, it’s in bad condition.

Q: Do you regret your activities in Kashmir?

A: Not at all. I met so many people and was able to generate a lot of interest in the short time I was there. I was contacted by so many people who found out about my basketball-related activities and subsequently stayed in touch. I met the Indian men’s and women’s national team coaches and players from the Indian national team. I went to Delhi and met some very talented players there.

Q: How much longer will you play basketball and what are your future plans?

A: I’ll play as long as I am able to perform at a good level and as long as I enjoy it. I’m training in USA daily and preparing for some tournaments this year where the level of play is strong. I am also talking with various people in the USA to see how I can continue to come to India in the future in a more official capacity.