Before all the attention generated by the Qatari women’s team withdrawing from the Asian Games basketball competition due to a ban on head coverings in competition, the Indian men’s team faced a similar predicament.
Captain Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh had to remove their turbans to play at the Asia Cup in July, when the head covering regulations came into international focus. They decided to cut their hair ahead of the Asian Games, which meant they didn’t have to wear turbans as required by their Sikh religion.
The controversial FIBA rule prohibits the use of headgear, hair accessories and jewelry in international competition.
Players on the Indian men's team opted for an alternative solution. “We had four Sikh players in the side, with the two of them regularly playing all our matches,” team official Divya Singh said. “Since Amritpal and Amjyot had cut their hair and did not wear turbans, we did not face any problems regarding the rules.”
For Amritpal, the decision was not easy. “Of course, it was not a good feeling to get my hair cut for this reason. But then, it had come to a point where I had to take a call. After all, it was a matter of continuing playing basketball or not. What else could I have doneIJ” he asked.
The India captain said his parents and relatives were opposed to him breaking with tradition and it took a lot of convincing on his part before he could get their approval. “It was natural for them to feel bad because it's a matter of our religion. But I had to make them understand what basketball meant to me and they agreed rather reluctantly,” Amritpal said.
The Indian men’s team was knocked out in the league phase at the Asian Games with consecutive losses to Iran and The Philippines.
late on Thursday night, meanwhile, basketball’s y insisted its ban on headwear has no "religious connotation" after Qatar's women’s team quit the Asian Games because they were not allowed to play in hijab scarves.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) strongly denied its rule, at the centre of the biggest controversy at the Games in Incheon, was aimed at any particular faith. “FIBA's regulations apply on a global scale and without any religious connotation,” the body said in a statement.
“While certain groups have interpreted the provisions of the official basketball rules as a ban against the participation of players of certain faiths in basketball competitions, the uniform regulations are of a purely sporting nature,” it said. The Qatari team, about half of whom wear the Muslim hijab headscarf, arrived home on Friday after quitting the regional Olympics in South Korea before their last scheduled game.
FIBA indicated a further softening of the rule, when it said tests could be carried out in international matches next year. Qatar, formally listed as "disqualified" from the Asian Games after forfeiting their first two games, were the only Muslim country to enter a women's team. The rule ran into trouble in July when two Sikh players from India were reportedly forced to remove their turbans at the Asia Cup in China and had to tie their hair with elastic bands.
In August, India's Anmol Singh was ordered to take off his patka head covering at the FIBA Asia U18 Championship in Doha. After complaints, FIBA this month relaxed the ban at national level .
