Local cagers Sartaj, Ravi on cloud nine

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 15

Proving their mettle and bringing laurels to Chandigarh, two local cagers successfully impressed the selectors of the Universal Basketball Alliance (UBA) league and got selectedto attend the trainingcamp at the USA-based juniors’ circuit.

Twenty-two-year-old Sartaj Sandhu, a student of GGDSD College in Sector 32, and 23-year-old Ravi Bhardwaj, a student of Panjab University campus, represented Punjab Steelers in the pro-league, recently held in Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad. Their high-pitch performance attracted the selectors to shortlist them for attending the training camp at their USA (Phoenix) based headquarters. The camp will be held from November 15 to 28 and coaches from the NBA fame are expected to head the training of selected youngsters.

As per Amarjeet Singh, mentor of these players and basketball coach with the UT Sports Department, this will be a great chance for both the players to find a base for nurturing their sports’ career abroad. Meanwhile, both the players confirmed their participation in the training camp and expressed it as best of the opportunity. Bhardwaj, who was named as the best upcoming player of the UBA and was awarded with a bike worth Rs 2 lakh, played an important role while representing Panjab University in the North Zone and Inter-University Championship. He has also represented Chandigarh in school nationals. “It’s a good opportunity for young players like us to shape up my career. Attending training camps abroad are always useful and many seniors have turned professional after attending such exposure camps. I am also aiming to get a pro exposure like UBA to find a new way for earning fame,” Bhardwaj added.

Meanwhile his counterpart, Sartaj Sandhu said this camp would surely help him in getting adapted to professional league. “My ultimate aim is to get a good deal in professional basketball league. And this camp will surely allow me to carry forward a good face among different teams. I am concentrating more to improve my skill, so that I can prove my worth among professionals,” Sandhu stated.

However, their coach Amarjeet Singh said, “Both the players are performing their best from the past five years. Such camps are beneficial for the overall growth of a player and also to add maturity in career. I am sure both of them will achieve something great through this exposure trip to make the city proud.”