KATHMANDU (Asia) - A newly constructed basketball court in western Nepal may just spark the fire of hope for the country's growing basketball audience.

Mr Lama Tendi Sherpa, President of the Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA), led the inauguration a new basketball court Armala, Pokhara in western Nepal last 22 January. Located in the bed of the beautiful and scenic Himalayas, the court is expected to serve as a hub for both sport and tourism. Sherpa recently shed light on the importance of the contribution of the Armala community and those donors living in the United Kingdom who are paying interest in the development of basketball in Nepal.

"Nepal is vying to tap the promising basketball athletes from among the born-to-be people of the community with the help of interested British donors," Sherpa said. "Not only that, the scenic beauty of the place, which is based at the laps of famous Machhapuchhre Mountain (Fish Tail Mountain) in the Annapurna Mountain Range, also has special importance in the tourism sector."

Sherpa and NeBA have lofty goals for the new court, and they are all hoping that this new facility will jumpstart a basketball movement in the local community and eventually, in the entire country. Nepal have never seen action in a major continental basketball tournament, but the sport, especially 3x3, has made inroads in the country's sport culture.

"Moreover, NeBA is ready to extend any kind of support from its side to develop the court into an internationally recognizable sports arena," Sherpa explained. "Right now, it is considered as one of the finest 3x3 destinations for Nepalese basketball."

Sherpa knows that NeBA's development goals can be met only through the initiative of efficient leadership, and this newly constructed Armala court is a tangible symbol of progress for Nepal basketball, making it especially significant.

FIBA