Mahindra NBA Challenge Tips Off in Mumbai
NBA and WNBA legends AC Green and Teresa Edwards guide Mumbai fans through drills and skills sessions
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Basketball legends Teresa Edwards and AC Green with participants of Mahindra NBA Challenge
-- The Mahindra NBA Challenge, tipped-off on Saturday, April 17th, with the completion of league registration followed by clinics for players and coaches who will be part of the seven week recreational league being held at the St Dominic Savio Court, Andheri (East) and Mastan YMCA. Basketball players from communities all across Mumbai received expert tips from NBA and WNBA legends, AC Green and Teresa Edwards - fine-tuning their skills before league games begin on Saturday, April 24th.
The event was officially launched by Mr. Akash Jain, Director, International Development, NBA, Mr. Ruzbeh Irani, EVP Corporate Strategy, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Mr. Harish Sharma, Secretary General, BFI.
Mr. Ruzbeh Irani, EVP Corporate Strategy, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said: "we are overwhelmed by the tremendous response received by the Mahindra NBA Challenge. A staggering 1000+ entries in Mumbai alone strengthens our belief that Basketball has the potential to be the number two sport in India. Its excitement and energy, its inclusive ethos and the positive values that Mahindra, the NBA and the BFI share make it perfectly suited to making a lasting, positive impact on our youth and our communities."
The launch of the Mahindra NBA Challenge drew more than 1,000 young basketball fans to Andheri and Nagpada. Each participant received a Mahindra NBA Challenge jersey before participating in drills conducted by Green, Edwards and other specialist coaches from the NBA. Eventually, the participants will be divided into approximately 100 teams that will compete in the league.
The Mahindra NBA Challenge is a seven week community-based recreational basketball league designed to give Mumbaikars an outlet to enjoy the game and improve their skills. The league is split into five divisions, including 13 year old boys division, girls and boys 14 to 17, and adult males and females 18 and over.
The Mahindra NBA Challenge also includes exciting games and contests in each division, such as an All Star game to be played at the end of the league season, and three point and slam dunk contests allowing participants to show-off their skills. At the conclusion of the season, the most valuable players (MVPs) and the players that demonstrate the greatest sportsmanship in each division will be honoured with awards. The league will culminate in championship games played in each division June 4-6th.
Notes to Editor
About the NBA
The NBA, founded in 1946, is a professional sports league and global business that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2009-10 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league's worldwide
reach is also displayed in the 80 international players from 35 countries and territories on NBA rosters. NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA.com averages more than 26 million page views per day, with more than 50 percent of the site's visitors coming from outside of North America. Through NBA Cares, the league, its teams and players have donated more than $115 million to charity, provided more than one million hours of hands-on service to communities around the world, and created more than 450 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.
About Mahindra
Mahindra embarked on its journey in 1945 by assembling the Willys Jeep in India and is now a US $6.3 billion Indian multinational. It employs over a 1,000,000 people across the globe and enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, tractors and information technology, with a significant and growing presence in financial services, tourism, infrastructure development, trade and logistics. The Mahindra Group today is an embodiment of global excellence and enjoys a strong corporate brand image.
Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world and has made an entry in the two-wheeler segment, which will see the company emerge as a full-range player with a presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry.
The Mahindra Group expanded its IT portfolio when Tech Mahindra acquired the leading global business and information technology services company, Satyam Computer Services. The company is now known as Mahindra Satyam.
Mahindra's Farm Equipment Sector is the proud recipient of the Japan Quality Medal, the only tractor company worldwide to be bestowed this honor. It also holds the distinction of being the only tractor company worldwide to win the Deming Prize. The US based Reputation Institute ranked Mahindra among the top 10 Indian companies in its Global 200: The World's Best Corporate Reputations list.
Mahindra is also one of the few Indian companies to receive an A+ GRI checked rating for its first Sustainability Report for the year 2007-08 and has also received the A+ GRI rating for the year 2008-09.
