Referee workshops in Malaysia, Sri Lanka successful

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The FIBA Regional Office-Asia successfully held separate referees workshops in two developing basketball nations earlier this August.

The first was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka last 2-4 August.

A total of 30 participants took part in the 3-day seminar made possible in cooperation with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF).

SLBF Secretary General Chandana Liyanage thanked the Regional Office and revealed the federation's intention to make the referees program annually on local shores.

"Many thanks to FIBA Regional Office Asia for the guidance and assistance, we were able to conduct the much-needed referees workshop in Sri Lanka in 2023," he said. "We would like to make these referee programs an annual event in Sri Lanka."

Sri Lanka Basketball Referees Association (SLBRA) Secretary Thusitha Yatigammana was likewise grateful for the workshop.

"Many new lessons were learned during the sessions," he said. "The SLBRA thanks the FIBA Asia and the SLBF for bringing this session."

The second workshop was held last 4-6 August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In cooperation with the Malaysia Basketball Association (MABA), the 3-day seminar attracted a total of 38 participants.

MABA Secretary General Tan Kee Hian expressed his gratitude in having yet another successful project with the Regional Office.

"To build up the professional technical members, MABA technical members must keep learning, innovating, and staying up-to-date with basketball knowledge," he said. "Also, teamwork and knowledge-sharing are equally important."

"MABA has cooperated closely with FIBA Asia in the past year. Through technical training, the local technical personnel have benefited a lot and have significantly improved," j added.

MABA Assistant Secretary General Sunny San was as thankful. "This workshop provides a precious learning opportunity and the latest international refereeing standards to Malaysia technical members," he said.

The workshops included several subjects from both a theoretical and practical perspective including latest updates related to refereeing and basketball rules. 

FIBA