News & Announcement
Sikkim Slam 3x3 Hosts Interactive Panel Discussion on Careers in Basketball
Gangtok, March 26 (IPR): Organisers of the Sikkim Slam 3x3 tournament, (District Administrative Centre of Gangtok and the Gangtok District Police, in association with Freedom Rehabilitation Facility and Ravens Basketball Club), powered by Sikkim INSPIRES, hosted an interactive and educational seminar titled “The Business of Basketball: Careers Beyond the Court” at a local hotel in Gangtok this evening.
The panel discussion included prominent and distinguished figures from the sport and aimed to be an educational and informative session for players, students, sports enthusiasts, association members and coaches/physical education teachers.
Secretary, Education Department, Mr Tashi Choppel, who attended as the Chief Guest, praised the seminar as highly educational and noted that basketball is reaching new heights across the state. He highlighted that MLA, Soreng-Chakung, and Chief Patron, Mr Aditya Golay, has been steadfast supporter of the sport, even advocating for its importance on the Assembly floor.
Patron and Additional Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, welcomed the esteemed panel and highlighted that the upcoming 3x3 basketball tournament marks a historic first for Sikkim. He extended his best wishes to the guests for their stay.
President of the Basketball Association of Sikkim, Mr Vishu Lama, lauded the initiative and congratulated the organisers, particularly Tournament Secretary, Mr Paljor Rilon Wangdi, and panelists. Describing the session as highly informative for aspiring basketball professionals, he encouraged the state's youth to actively participate in the great learning experience.
During the panel discussion, General Secretary for the Basketball Association of Sikkim, Mr Jigmee Wazilingpa, outlined the story of basketball in Sikkim. He spoke about the history of the sport in the state, the formation of BAS, the struggles, big achievements and the roadmap of Sikkim basketball.
Meghalaya State Coach and Founder of Touchline Basketball Academy, Mr Andrew Suting provided insight on coaching, technical direction and building basketball programmes. He outlined coaching opportunities and highlighted the importance of having a clear roadmap driven by specific micro-objectives. Mr Suting also identified exposure camps as key developmental tools and stressed that the future of the sport relies on both senior player mentorship and dedicated training for under-12 athletes.
Sports Journalist for Ekalavyas, Ms Leandra Monteiro, shared her personal journey into the world of basketball journalism, tracing her path from its inception to her current role. She highlighted the rapid growth of the sport and underscored the necessity of a professional storytelling approach to elevate its profile. Furthermore, Ms Monteiro addressed the importance of formal professional courses and provided insights into managing the backlash and challenging situations often encountered in the sports media industry.
Founder of Indian Live Sports Hub, Mr Sandy Singh, delivered a presentation highlighting the critical lack of documentation during past tournaments and the urgent need for a systematic record. He emphasised that professional success in the industry is unattainable without determination and grit. Detailing the rapid growth of his YouTube channel, Mr Singh explained how live telecasts are transforming the sport, particularly when implemented at the grassroots level for local tournaments. Additionally, he noted that live broadcasting serves as a vital tool for officials, motivating them to analyse and refine their officiating calls with greater accuracy.
Creative Director at Sportscast India, Mr Vishal Yadav, shared his expertise on live streaming, broadcast production, and the evolving landscape of careers in sports technology. While noting the current lack of formal academic courses in the field, he emphasised that a deep understanding of production processes and a commitment to teamwork are essential to overcoming industry challenges. Mr Yadav also provided a roadmap for aspiring professionals, discussing how to enter the industry and the technical steps required to elevate production quality to international standards.
Sports Lawyer, Presenter, and Commentator, Mr Ryan James, shared insights into his career journey and the distinct responsibilities of his dual roles. He defined the work of a sports lawyer as essential for governance, safeguarding player interests, managing contracts and resolving complex league and media disputes. Speaking about his work as a commentator, Mr James described the role as mastering the art of storytelling, requiring a unique flair to bring any narrative to life for the audience.
India’s only certified FIBA 3x3 referee, Mr Mohan Kumar and Referee Instructor for Basketball Federation of India, Mr James Bamon spoke about the interconnectedness between players, referees, officials and media. They discussed the careers and pathways in developing referees, the reality of the career and the importance of officiating.
The session came to a close with an interactive question and answer session with the audience.
The panel discussion included prominent and distinguished figures from the sport and aimed to be an educational and informative session for players, students, sports enthusiasts, association members and coaches/physical education teachers.
Secretary, Education Department, Mr Tashi Choppel, who attended as the Chief Guest, praised the seminar as highly educational and noted that basketball is reaching new heights across the state. He highlighted that MLA, Soreng-Chakung, and Chief Patron, Mr Aditya Golay, has been steadfast supporter of the sport, even advocating for its importance on the Assembly floor.
Patron and Additional Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, welcomed the esteemed panel and highlighted that the upcoming 3x3 basketball tournament marks a historic first for Sikkim. He extended his best wishes to the guests for their stay.
President of the Basketball Association of Sikkim, Mr Vishu Lama, lauded the initiative and congratulated the organisers, particularly Tournament Secretary, Mr Paljor Rilon Wangdi, and panelists. Describing the session as highly informative for aspiring basketball professionals, he encouraged the state's youth to actively participate in the great learning experience.
During the panel discussion, General Secretary for the Basketball Association of Sikkim, Mr Jigmee Wazilingpa, outlined the story of basketball in Sikkim. He spoke about the history of the sport in the state, the formation of BAS, the struggles, big achievements and the roadmap of Sikkim basketball.
Meghalaya State Coach and Founder of Touchline Basketball Academy, Mr Andrew Suting provided insight on coaching, technical direction and building basketball programmes. He outlined coaching opportunities and highlighted the importance of having a clear roadmap driven by specific micro-objectives. Mr Suting also identified exposure camps as key developmental tools and stressed that the future of the sport relies on both senior player mentorship and dedicated training for under-12 athletes.
Sports Journalist for Ekalavyas, Ms Leandra Monteiro, shared her personal journey into the world of basketball journalism, tracing her path from its inception to her current role. She highlighted the rapid growth of the sport and underscored the necessity of a professional storytelling approach to elevate its profile. Furthermore, Ms Monteiro addressed the importance of formal professional courses and provided insights into managing the backlash and challenging situations often encountered in the sports media industry.
Founder of Indian Live Sports Hub, Mr Sandy Singh, delivered a presentation highlighting the critical lack of documentation during past tournaments and the urgent need for a systematic record. He emphasised that professional success in the industry is unattainable without determination and grit. Detailing the rapid growth of his YouTube channel, Mr Singh explained how live telecasts are transforming the sport, particularly when implemented at the grassroots level for local tournaments. Additionally, he noted that live broadcasting serves as a vital tool for officials, motivating them to analyse and refine their officiating calls with greater accuracy.
Creative Director at Sportscast India, Mr Vishal Yadav, shared his expertise on live streaming, broadcast production, and the evolving landscape of careers in sports technology. While noting the current lack of formal academic courses in the field, he emphasised that a deep understanding of production processes and a commitment to teamwork are essential to overcoming industry challenges. Mr Yadav also provided a roadmap for aspiring professionals, discussing how to enter the industry and the technical steps required to elevate production quality to international standards.
Sports Lawyer, Presenter, and Commentator, Mr Ryan James, shared insights into his career journey and the distinct responsibilities of his dual roles. He defined the work of a sports lawyer as essential for governance, safeguarding player interests, managing contracts and resolving complex league and media disputes. Speaking about his work as a commentator, Mr James described the role as mastering the art of storytelling, requiring a unique flair to bring any narrative to life for the audience.
India’s only certified FIBA 3x3 referee, Mr Mohan Kumar and Referee Instructor for Basketball Federation of India, Mr James Bamon spoke about the interconnectedness between players, referees, officials and media. They discussed the careers and pathways in developing referees, the reality of the career and the importance of officiating.
The session came to a close with an interactive question and answer session with the audience.
