Mumbai girl overcomes gender and economic barriers to play basketball

Mumbai : A 13-year old girl from Nagpada has overcome gender and social barriers to emerge as a budding basketball player.

Afsana Mansuri has also mobilised others from the community to form an all-girls team called the 'Nagpada Basketball Association,' named after her neighbourhood.

Born into a conservative Muslim family, her widowed mother found it revolting when Afsana suggested three years back that she wanted to play basketball.

With constant nagging and what she calls 'emotional blackmail,' she could get her mother say yes.

"In our community girls do not usually play basketball. There is a ground behind where kids would play. Afsana started sneaking into it and joining them. Finally, I let her play," said Mohammad Mustafa, Afsana’s uncle.

A former player agreed to coach her for free helped. It meant that no additional financial burden on her mother who works as domestic help.

Afsana has to fit in her matches and practice sessions within a hectic schedule of studies, household work and occasionally filling in for her mother as domestic help.

However, she continued with her determination without a frown on her face.

"We were told that we needed 12 players to form a team and play among ourselves. With time, others joined in and we could form a group of our own," she said.

Afsana is in the seventh grade at a local municipality school. She has played several district level tournaments for various teams. Twice, she represented Maharashtra.

"She has played two state-level championships. Afsana tries emulating boys when she plays. She gets noticed as she has the ability to work hard," said Abdul Rashid, Afsana's coach.

The Nagpada Basketball Association’s bench strength is increasing by the day, cutting across girls from various age-brackets and social and economic strata. (ANI)