Sirmore, Sept 11:
Students of Kalgidhar Society, alongwith India’s U-18 basketball player Anmol Singh, has sent out a strong message to FIBA by playing a local match here with their turbans on, protesting against the discrimination meted out to Sikh players during Asian Championship in China.
International Basketball Federation’s decision against Indian Sikh players, Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh, who were asked to remove their turban in Wuhan, had invited outrage on social media and the internet.
Anmol Singh, who met with a similar fate in an opening game against Qatar during the Asia U-18 championship, said: “I was shocked when I was informed by Doha’s officials that I cannot continue to play unless I remove my turban.
“I really can’t fathom the fact that how a turban can physically hurt a player. It’s unfortunate that the Federation has so far remained resolute with their decision,” he said yesterday.
Wielding their turban, students of the Society’s Akal Academy enthralled the spectators with their game in the lap of the Himalayas here.
Hurt by the statement issued by FIBA which said that players cannot wear any form of headgear which may cause injury to others, a participant Sher Jung said, “It’s no different than any other cloth that a player wears. How can a piece of cloth cause injury to other players must be explained by the federation.
“A turban is an identity and a part of our religious and cultural heritage which a Sikh wears on his head and the Federation must respect that.” (PTI)
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