IND – Geethu heads Indian challenge

CHENNAI (23rd FIBA Asia Women Championship) - Former WNBL player Geethu Anna Jose will lead the Indian challenge as the hosts aim to retain their hard-earned position in the elite Level I, in the 23rd FIBA Asia Women Championship to be played here from Sept 17-24.

The 24-year-old centre, who topped the leader board in points and rebounds at the 22nd FIBA Asia Women Championship in 2007 has five more players, who supported India’s cause in posting an all-win record at Incheon two years ago, en route to a maiden promotion to Level I.

Geethu scored 32.8 points and collected 14.8 rebounds per game – both of them a tournament-high – at Incheon.

Anitha Pauldurai, Akanksha Singh, Anju Lakra, Prashanti Singh and Kiranjit Kaur are the others who carry the experience of the unbeaten record from Incheon.

Pratima Singh makes her entry to the team – replacing elder sister Divya Singh – to keep the flag of Varanasi sisters going.

Pratima will be joined by Sonika Ohlyan, her teammate from the India team that played in the 19th FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women at Medan last year.

Pratima averaged 13.3 points and 9 rebounds per game at Medan, while Sonika had a 13.7PPG-8RPG record.

Another notable presence in the Indian team is the return of seasoned campaigner Shiba Maggon.

Shiba, who qualified to be a FIBA referee in December 2008, might just be the first FIBA referee to continue playing for the Senior National Team of her country!

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia