JOIN USNursing fond hopes of making her mark in the higher rungs of the game, Karnataka’s Priyanka Prabhakara will leave for the United States on Wednesday to attend the third annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp.
The 18-year-old Priyanka is among the two players — Aashay Verma being the other — who have been selected for the camp, comprising 67 players from across the world, from February 17 to 19 at the New Orleans Pelicans’ practice facility as part of the NBA All Star Game 2017.
“I am extremely delighted with the opportunity, I hope it will help me to improve my game,” said Priyanka who earned selection after impressing officials from NBA at the FIBA Asia U-18 Championship for women in Bangkok, Thailand last year and at the Senior Nationals in Puducherry in January.
“Last November I played the Junior FIBA tournament in Thailand where NBA selectors observed players from all the teams. Following that, there was one official from NBA at the Senior National Championships in Puducherry this January. That’s where I received the news that I had been selected for the camp,” said the DYES, Vidyanagar player.
Priyanka wants to use this opportunity to work on her weaknesses, especially fitness, which she believes, is the biggest hindrance on her way. “I still need to improve my fitness. My strength lies in breaching the defence and scoring points for my teams,” said the shooting guard, who hails from a sporting family.
“My mom (Geethanjali) was an athlete in Kerala and she would play kabaddi also. But due to financial reasons she had to quit sports. But she wanted me to play sports. In my school, seeing my height, my coach Sathyanarayana suggested my parents to put me into basketball and that’s how it all began.”
She initially missed selection to Vidyanagar Sports Hostel but made it on her second try and has been with the DYES team since 2012. “My parents (her father T Prabhakara is employed in Saudi Arabia) and my coach have been a constant source of support. I want to keep achieving more. I want to contribute more to Karnataka and play for my country,” said Priyanka, looking forward to a fruitful trip.
DH News Service