Delhi to get new indoor basketball stadium

NEW DELHI: The national capital is all set to get an international standard indoor basketball stadium within two years, for which foundation stone laying ceremony will take place on July 3 at the Ajmal Khan Park, here.
    
"The indoor stadium will be equipped with all state of the art facilities an international level basketball venue deserves," Harish Sharma, Secretary General of Basketball Federation of India said.
    
The 3000-seater stadium will be constructed within 15 months.
    
"It is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) who have decided to complete the work within 15 months," Sharma said.
    
Interestingly, the foundation stone-laying ceremony will be coinciding with the four-day 'Basketball Without Borders Asia' camp for Under-19 players from 15 countries, first ever such initiative by the National Basketball Association (NBA) of USA starting on that day.
    
"The indoor stadium, coming up just before the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held here, will certainly give huge boost to our preparation for the same," Sharma said.
    
"We are seriously considering about introducing a professional basketball league in India, for which the stadium will be a fitting option," Sharma added.
    
Indian Army recently gave Delhi an indoor basketball stadium fitted with international standard facilities.
    
"But the new stadium will be only for civilians and expected to play a lot in popularising the game," Sharma said.