In 2015, Touchline Northeast was set up for the promotion and development of a variety of sports in the region. While 37-year-old Andrew Suting from Shillong was a member of the founding team, he was also instrumental in establishing the Touchline Basketball Academy within the ambit of the larger organization. At the end of March 2020, this academy had trained some 2,000 players at its various centers and through multiple tie-ups with schools and colleges.
The basketball whiz was one of the earliest promoters of the 3×3 format of basketball in the country. This variation of basketball made its debut in the Tokyo Olympics this year.
Andrew has represented Meghalaya in basketball at the national level (All India Youth and Junior Nationals). The first basketball coach in Meghalaya certified by the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA), or International Basketball Federation, as well as the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC).
Although In 2016, Andrew took a lead role in organizing the first 3×3 (pronounced three-ex-three) basketball tournament in the North East. The basketball whiz was one of the earliest promoters of this format in the country.
The 3×3 variation of basketball, made its debut in the Tokyo Olympics this year. Played with three aside, one backboard, and in a half-court setup. “At a local level, I had, along with other basketball coaches, organized the Meghalaya 3×3 Challenge earlier this year, and now we are looking forward to the first-ever Northeast 3×3 tour,” he shares.
The basketball craze has been with Andrew since childhood, at a time when cable TV connections were a luxury. Even international time differences proved no obstacle for Andrew. Who smiles about “following the NBA (the National Basketball Association’s professional league). Since the nineties when one had to wake up in the middle of the night to hopefully catch a game.”
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