FLASH:
BASKETBALL:....53rd P.D. Chidambara Sourya Naraynan Memorial Rolling Trophy All India Basketball Tournament 2012...live score...I.O.B Vs O.N.G.C....35--46
GEETHU HOPEFUL ABOUT HER WNBA TRYOUTS
WAIT OF EXPECTATION
Sarath Pookkat | TNN
Chennai: “I’m mighty relieved and relaxed,” said Geethu Anna Jose on Wednesday, a day after her tryout with the WNBA club San Antonio Silver Stars.
If she thought the hardest part of chasing her dream of playing in the WNBA is over, she would soon find out in the next couple of days that waiting for the results of the tryouts expected sometime in the third week of this month is going to be even more tough.
The 6 ft 2 inches tall, Keralaborn, Chennai-bred girl though can sleep well in the belief that she’s given her best. Three tryouts in eight days in the United States, where basketball is a rage, where the players are superstars, more often than not millionaires, and tough, hardcore professionals.
But Geethu believes that she can survive the extremely physical world of WNBA. She knows she’ll have to fight for every ball, that there will be nonchalant elbows flailing when she goes for the rebounds, and her tall, lean frame will be dwarfed by the more powerful European and Africans. She knows she’ll be put to the ultimate test.
“The tryout at Los Angeles Sparks was an open tryout and there were 60 players fighting for their chance. It was very physical,” said Geethu. “In Chicago and San Antonio I was the only player for the tryout and so the coaching staff were looking at my shooting, dribbling and footwork. I’ve given my everything. I hope the coaches of all the three teams were impressed with my skills.”
Geethu’s friend and her Railways and India teammate for more than seven years Anitha Pauldurai too believes Geethu will make it.
“WNBA is very tough, the toughest, and extremely physical,” said Anitha who has been Geethu’s best friend since the time they started playing together in 2003. “But I have no doubt that her talent will take her through.”
More importantly for Geethu, the WNBA too thinks she’s got a good chance. That’s the reason why they gave her the opportunity in the first place.
If she makes it to any of the WNBA teams the game will get a huge boost in the country. The NBA has realised the huge potential of the game in the country and they’ll make sure it’s rightly tapped. An Indian playing in the toughest league in the world will surely generate interest for the game among the masses.
Geethu wanted her friends and well-wishers to pray for her. And we’ll know in a couple of weeks whether those prayers have been answered.
