NAGPUR District Basketball Association (NDBA) President Sandip Joshi has written a strong-worded letter to Maha Basketball Association Secretary Shatrughna Gokhale asking him not to play with future of budding cagers. MBA recently named the State Sub-Junior girls team which left out Nagpur’s top scorer Anandi Sonewane (of Dharampeth Krida Mandal). Instead, a letter from Joshi claimed that Arya Dagarwar of Shivaji Nagar Gymkhana (SNG) was selected.

Riding on the performance of Anandi, Nagpur team won a silver medal in the U-13 State tournament in Kolhapur. “Still, after the camp she was not selected and Arya who plays for Gokhale’s club SNG was selected,” claimed Joshi.

“Performance wise, Anandi must have be in the Maharashtra team. Nagpur team played five matches including the final where Anandi scored a total of 64 points and Arya scored just 17 points,” mentioned Joshi.

Joshi was critical of the injustice meted out to the deserving player.

Joshi said, “For your personal gains, please don’t play with the future of young players. See the comparison of both the players. First of all, if Nagpur team played in the final, then both the Nagpur players should have been selected in the Maharashtra team. I think Anandi shouldn’t have been ignored.”

Joshi added, “Because of Anandi’s performance, the Nagpur team was able to reach the final. She has scored 64 points in five matches and has performed consistently in the tournament. If performance of a player is not considered, then what has to be the criteria to get selected in the team. I have received many complaints in the past against Mr Gokhale favouring players of his own club SNG but this time we won’t remain silent and NDBA will surely take stern action so that this kind of injustice is not repeated,” the letter stated.