Hyderabad: The basketball fraternity in the city was in for a pleasant surprise on Tuesday. The long-standing court sharing dispute between the basketball fraternity and roller skating athletes at the ground at the LB Stadium is set to be a thing of the past.
State Sports Minister V Srinivas Goud on Tuesday assured that the existing court facility will be extended and make separate courts for basketball and roller skaters at the LB Stadium. The decision was made after the Minister visited the facility and took note of the condition of the court.
Earlier in January this year, the basketball fraternity in the city was irked when the Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) officials decided to give the court for skating for three days to basketball players for the remaining days of the week. The court then was still under construction. The move was a result of an appeal from the skaters of the city who sought the ground for their practice.
The basketball court was demolished to accommodate the Tennis Complex for the 2004 national Games. They were promised a new Stadium inside the LB Stadium premises. After struggling for a long period, the decks were cleared to build a basketball court there. However, the court-sharing move attracted criticism.
However, on Tuesday, SATS chairman A Venkateshwar Reddy revealed that the existing facility will be extended and two facilities – for basketball skating – will be built. “The Minister has decided to extend the existing facility till the gate to accommodate two courts. So both basketball and skaters can use that facility now. The work will begin in a few days and we assure them that it will be completed in quick time,” said A Venkateshwar Reddy.
Meanwhile, PB Srinath, the Indian women’s basketball team coach, said the decision to clear the dispute is a big boost for the game. “We have been fighting for this for a long time. We appealed to officials many times in the past. We had a dedicated court for us before 2004. Then we were promised a new court and it was under construction before it was decided to share it with skaters. Now that the issue is sorted, we are hoping to see the new basketball court soon. Hope they complete it quickly. The fraternity thanks officials for sorting it out,” he said.
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