The 7 feet 5 inches long Sim Bhullar, the first Indian player selected in NBA, on Wednesday shared his experiences of the game in the top league with the budding basket ball players of Chandigarh and said “India has great potential for the game of basket ball”.
“There is no scarcity of talent for the game, rather it is growing rapidly here”, said Sim. He added that though State and national level basket ball associations are doing commendable job for promotion of this game, yet this game requires more sponsorship. The 22-year-old Sim, reached New Public School at around 1 pm to conduct ‘Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA clinic for 150 basket ball players’ here.
After visiting Mumbai and Amritsar, Chandigarh was his third station, where he reached to promote basket ball among the budding players. Sim said NBA is thinking to start four training centres in India at Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh to impart basic training to the budding players, so that they may further promote the game at national or international level.
Sim said “there is dire necessity to strengthen the game at grass root level….hence NBA is thinking to start four training centres in India at Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh to impart basic training to the budding players, so that they may further promote the game at national or international level”.
“We should focus on the children in their childhood and start imparting best training to them, and then we may get good results”, added Sim. While sharing his personal experiences for the game, Sim said “I too started playing basketball game at the age of 12 years but I took it seriously at the age of 14”. He said originally he hails from Punjab in a family of sportspersons.
“My father was very good kabbadi player, yet it was my mother who wanted to make me best basketball player, I think after joining the NBA, her dream came true”, said Sim. However, his sister Avneet who accompanied with him in Chandigarh likes cricket, base ball and volleyball more than basketball.
The tall shy guy, while sharing his personal likings and disliking with the school children, said “I like less fatty food but to work out in gym regularly, is the first choice”.
“I also love to see Punjabi, Hindi films and its songs a lot, besides wearing Punjabi dresses”, said Sim. Due to his height, Sim wears five feet long trouser, besides 22 number shoes, which are made after special order, said Avneet, Sim’s sister.
SIM was born on December 2, 1992 in Toronto and he completed his graduation from the University of Tennessee. His parents who were residing in Punjab, few years ago shifted to Canada.