WNBA star Swin Cash predicts a bright future for basketball in India

In October 2013, Reliance Foundation and NBA India teamed up to in an initiative to promote basketball in India. The initiative looks to focus at the grass roots, starting with young children at schools across the nation.

Swin Cash, who is a three-time WNBA champion and double Olympic gold medallist, has commended the Reliance Foundation Junior NBA programme.

She said, “It is great to watch the energy in the children and the effort from the NBA and Reliance Foundation to get to the grassroots. The kids here are having a good time and that is what the sport is all about,”

The American goes on to highlight the potential of this project in India, and the wonders it can do, not only for the sport, but the overall development of children in the country.

“When you have an investment for a pilot project like this, it helps. Basketball has been played since a long time, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be introduced in India and the kids can’t fall in love with it here. I believe they can take it to an international level. This programme offers equal opportunity for boys and girls and will be effective,” she said.

She added, “Everybody is interested in looking at the final product and want to know when is the next NBA or the WNBA player going to come in (from India), and that is not the idea of this initiative. It is to get these become active and lead a healthier lifestyle.”

The program is now in full flow, covering 60,000 individuals across 100 schools in Mumbai since its launch.

The 34-year old concludes by saying that stars like her will do all they can to be a part of such a break-through initiative, and hopefully inspire the next generation.

She said, “As a professional athlete, I believe that with visibility comes responsibility and that means you need to give back”