New Delhi: The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has announced the 12-member squad of youth players who will represent the country at the 2nd FIBA Asia U16 Championship in Nha Trang City, Vietnam, from October 18-28.


India, who qualified for this championship after defeating Nepal and Sri Lanka in qualifiers in New Delhi in August, have been slotted in Group A of the FIBA Asia U16 Championship along with reigning champions China, Malaysia, and Chinese Taipei.


India’s squad will be highlighted by young star players such as Punjab’s Loveneet Singh and Chhattisgarh’s Ajay Pratap Singh. Additionally, Punjab’s 15-year-old 7-foot-2-inch player Satnam Singh Bhamara, who was part of India’s Senior Men’s team at the FIBA Asia Championship in China last month, will also be part of the U16 side. India’s coaching contingent will be led by head coach Jai Prakash Singh.

The squad leaves for Vietnam on the night of October 15, 2011.

India will tip off their campaign against holders China on Tuesday, October 18th. India will face Malaysia and Chinese Taipei on the 19th and 20th of October, respectively. The Second Round of the tournament will begin on Saturday, October 22nd. The Final is scheduled to be held on Friday, October 28th. The Indian Boys’ team is currently ranked 45th in the FIBA World Rankings.

Team
Abhishek Rai
Khusmeet Singh Atwal
Karthickeyan Saminathan
Rakesh Singh Sangwan
Loveneet Singh
Sanjeev Kumar
Narender Satyawan
Syed Anam Ali
Akimjeet Singh Sohal
Pankaj Rathee
Ajay Pratap Singh
Satnam Singh Bhamara

Head Coach: Jai Prakash Singh
Coach: JN Nehra
Coach: Divya Singh
Physiotherapist: Nilesh Shah

FIBA Referee: Manoj Kotian
FIBA Referee: Zanim Mohd. Hashim
FIBA Commissioner: Naresh Aneja