From correspondents in Delhi, India, 07:00 PM IST

Indian basketball will get a fillip when top officials of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) arrive in India and discuss crucial tie-ups that could change the face of the sport in the country.

The president and secretary-general of FIBA, Bob Elphinston and Patrick Bauman, and secretary-general of FIBA Asia Dato Yeoh Choo Hock will arrive here July 3 to announce a major bouquet for India.

Basketball Federation of India (BFI) secretary-general Harish Sharma is upbeat about the visit.

Sharma said in his discussion with Elphinston and Bauman during a meeting in the US early this year, they were keen to help.

'In BFI, we see the visit of these officials as a golden opportunity to create a good base for launching the professional league,' said Sharma.

'Our boys and girls have the potential to make it big. If FIBA helps our cagers, it would help us grow,' he said.

The FIBA bosses are coming to India for the first time for the Basketball Without Borders, a four-day FIBA-NBA joint venture, to be held at the American School in Delhi.

The two top men of FIBA will also meet Sports Minister M.S. Gill and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)