Kerelites make it to National sqaud

Five hoopsters from Kerala have found their place in the Indian senior women basketball squad for the 3rd Lusofonia Games to be held at Goa. Jeena P.S., Stephy Nixon, Neenumol P.S., Smruthi Radhakrishnan and Poojamol are the players selected from the state to represent the national team. It would be a great opportunity and exposure for these girls as several countries including Angola and Macau, Mozambique will be vying for the title.

The games is organised by ACOLOP (Associação dos ComitésOlímpicos de Língua Oficial Portugues). The ACOLOP is a non-governmental organisation consisting of 12 members, whose main purpose is to strengthen the unity and cooperation of its members, through sport.

The basketball games will be held at the Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium at the Goa University Campus. The matches will be held in the round robin leagues. Last year’s bronze medalist Mozambique will be a strong competitor for India with winner Portugal and runners-up Brazil not participating in the edition.

Apart from basketball, athletes from 12 nations will participate in eight sporting disciplines such as athletics, beach volleyball, football, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and Wushu.

Portuguese Commonwealth nations like Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Goa (India), Macau (China), Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Sri Lanka will participate. The Indian team will participate as Goa (India).