While the COVID-19 pandemic only temporarily halted professional major sports events around the world, the grassroots-level programs have been deeply impacted even a year since it all began.
Especially in India, a country battling the virus hard and attempting to overcome worldwide record COVID-19 numbers through the month of April 2021.
Getting vaccinated and staying at home, to maintain social distancing was the need of the hour. Possibly in an effort to keep young kids and therefore their families at home, India on Track's 'Online Sports Festival' was back.
The third edition, conducted between May 3-7 for kids between the ages of five and 18, returned for the first time since Dec. 2020.
Here's a quick short recap of how it unfolded for the young aspiring ballers over the five days of the festival.
Game Analysis and fun drills
Lifting the talent level of basketball in the country at its foundation includes not only engaging the kids with the right fitness regimes or right on-court techniques but also helping them understand the game better and improving their basketball IQ with film analysis.
From game analysis on the final day to starting off the festival on day one with sessions focused on various technical skills, the enthusiastic attendees got it all and then some.
Interactive session with Princepal Singh
For the second time in India on Track 'Online Sports Festival' history, former member of the NBA G League Ignite Princepal Singh made an appearance.
Singh made NBA history, this past March, becoming the first-ever NBA Academy alumni to check-in and score points in the G League. He also became the third Indian ever to do so after Satnam Singh Bhamara and Amjyot Singh.
MORE: 'My [Ignite] contract is over': Princepal Singh discusses next chapter
Princepal had previously interacted with the young members of the NBA Basketball Schools program in Sep. 2020 during the first 'Online Sports Festival'.
Later the same week, on Saturday (May 8 IST), the 20-year-old also joined the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Live Sessions along with former Indian women's captain Raspreet Sidhu. To watch every full episode of the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Live Sessions 2021, click here.
Heartwarming message from NBA Basketball Schools family
Virtual calls, a majority of them on Zoom, have really bridged distances during the pandemic.
As the participants of the NBA Basketball Schools program in India performed fun drills and learned interesting NBA trivia courtesy of Phil Galvin, Technical Director of the NBA Basketball School, they also received a touching message of support from their peers in UAE.
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