While 31-year-old Imran Ali Baig always harboured dreams of making it big in the international basketball scene, an innate desire to don the hat of an adjudicator around other players is what set him apart. Fortunately, the recognition has come by just right in time—as this enterprising city boy from has been zeroed in as an official FIBA (International federation for basketball) referee. Imran is one of the three Indians to have been inducted by the international federation to officiate basketball players across the globe. In a candid chat with Bengaluru Chronicle, Baig shares the inside track with us, just as he prepares for refereeing a FIBA Asia Cup for women to be held from July 23 to 29 in the city...
“I started playing the game, when I was about 11 years old. Juggling it with school never seemed like a task, in fact, I was always enthusiastic about hitting the ground irrespective of how the day went. Since I’ve always been a good student, my parents were supportive right from the start.
Despite a typical middle-class upbringing, I was always encouraged to think out of the box and excel in whatever I really wanted to do,” begins Imran, who is the only Bengalurean basketball referee to have been selected by FIBA (International Basketball federation) across India. Imran cleared the International referee examination in the year 2012, held in New Delhi. Taking us through it, he enthuses, “It’s personally very motivating to be selected or have an international board place their confidence in you. I had applied on their official website and there were about 20 entries from the country alone.” Imran currently coaches as a Basketball coach at Delhi Public School. He had officiated the U16 Asian Basketball championship for girls in Colombo, U18 Asian Basketball Championship’16 for boys in Tehran, Iran and Senior mens Asian basketball championship cup’16 in China.
After having officiated three international basketball tournaments, we quiz him whether the decision to shift gears to refereeing was a conscious decision. To which he responds, “In all honesty, its not an easy job. The focus is always on the players. But, again, there’s an unexplained sense of satisfaction to watch somebody with potential grow. That acts like the biggest motivation.”
Aside of BB, if there’s something which Imran loves to do in his free-time, it’s got to be travelling and keeping fit. “As a sportsperson, it’s imperative you take your health and fitness seriously. And, it’s no different with me. I also like exploring places whenever I can, and love listening to music.” Being the oldest of the five siblings, Imran tells us how he loves to train his ‘little’ ones too.
Excited about what lies next on the anvil, he says, “I believe the players here have a lot of potential. But, again there isn’t much attention given to this sport. The fact that many international sports federations are going the extra mile should be inspiring enough, is my message to the all the aspiring women players out there. I’m certain we will give our 100%, lets leave the rest to time.”
