Satnam Singh Bhamara has no intentions of coming back to India

Satnam Singh Bhamara with young kids at an event

26th of June 2015 would go down as a red-letter day in the history of Indian basketball for it was on this day that the country found its name on the global map, thanks to Satnam Singh Bhamara’s draft selection into 2011 NBA Championship winners Dallas Mavericks.

While it would be slightly difficult for us to expect him to start for the Mavericks straight away in top flight basketball, there is no doubt about the fact that if he continues to put in the hard yards, he will make into the main team in the near future.

But there was another issue that Satnam stressed upon in New Delhi on the sidelines of the ACG-NBA Jump programme on Monday. The 19-year-old spoke about why he had no intentions of returning to India and also spoke about why he doesn't want to represent the country in tournaments.

"At the moment I am playing in the D-level there. I have to work hard and improve my game. I would rather do it there than come here and get injured. Right now, I have no intentions of coming back to India," he said, as quoted by the Times of India.

"The national team doesn't have a doctor. I used to come to India and play even when I was being trained in the US. I used to get hurt and nobody cared here. When I flew back, I could barely tell them what my injury was about. They were obviously not happy. The facilities should improve for both men and women," Satnam added.

A proper coaching programme and good facilities a must: Satnam

When asked about what India need to do to produce more world class players, Satnam felt the India needed to improve its facilities and a wee thought out training programme is essential for the development of players.

He also felt that it would take at leats two years for India to understand the rigours of training for the higher levels. and acknowledged that India needed to work on building a solid bench strength.

"There should be a proper academy with good coaches. Players should be provided with lodging facilities so that they can concentrate on their game. They shouldn't exhaust themselves in finding a way to reach their coaching centres.

"You can't single out a player and focus on him only. We need several players. Countries like China are coming up so fast because they have a strong bench.

“It will take time. I had the opportunity through IMG-Reliance to go to US and train but since then no one has come up. At least, now there are NBA programmes in India. Even if they get some, they will have to go through the rigours and understand how the game is played at that level. It takes nearly two years. After that the real training begins,” he concluded.