District Basketball Asociations

Idukki District was formed in the year 1974. In the same year Idukki District Basketball Association was also formed and got affiliated to Kerala Basketball Association. Mr. N. K. Mathai, Assistant Engineer and Mr.Eapen Andrews of Moolamattam Electricity Board was elected as the first secretary and president of the district association respectively. Mr.C.M.Mathew served as the secretary from 1975 to 1986.From 1974 to 1979 Mr.Eapen Andrews was the president. From 1980 to1992 Mr. L.Somaroy, Conservator of the Forest Department and from 1993 to 2000 Mr. Luke Stephan, Pulimoottil presided over the association. Mr.C.N.Balakrishnan has been serving as the secretary of the district association since 1987.He is also the Associate Secretary of Kerala Basketball Association. Mr.Koshy Abraham; Manager of Malankara Estate has been the president of the association since 2001.

Idukki district were the winners of the State Basketball championships for many times.Mr.Unwin J.Antony, Mr.Jose Kurian, Mr.Mathai and Mr.K.R.Radhakrishnan represented Kerala state team in the various National Basketball Championships. Mr. Gens V. Varghese, Mr. Jose K. Baby & Mr.Danet George represented Kerala State team in the Junior National Basketball Championship held in 1995,1998 & 2003 respectively. Mr.Savy Joseph, Mr.R.Vishnu and Mr.Jaffer P.Hamsa represented Kerala State team in the Sub-Junior National Basketball Championships held in 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively.

Mr.Gens V.Varghese became an International Referee in 2002.He is the Youngest International Referee in India. He is the 1st and the only Indian to be appointed as a Neutral Referee by FIBA ASIA. He is also the1st and the only Indian to be appointed as a Referee by FIBA for the upcoming Common Wealth Games in Australia. He created record by officiating 9 matches including 3rd place match in the 4th FIBA ASIA under 20 Men Championship in Tehran, Iran, 2004.He also officiated 8 matches including semi finals in the 23rd FIBA ASIA SENIOR MEN Championship in Doha, Qatar, 2005. He has been officiating the various National Level Championship Finals since 2000.

National – ‘B’ panel referees from the district are Dr. Prince K.Mattam and Mr.Siby Lukose.K B A – ‘A’ panel referees from the district are Mr.C.M.Mathew, Mr.E.V.Thomas, Mr.Cyraic Thomas and Mr.Rahul.J.Nair.

IDBA organized Kerala State Junior basketball championships twice. The 32nd Kerala State Sub-Junior basketball championship was organized by DE PAUL SPORTS FOUNDATION, Thodupuzha under the auspices of IDUKKI DISTRICT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION at De Paul Higher Secondary School floodlit basketball ground, Thodupuzha from 2nd to 6th April 2005. DE PAUL SPORTS FOUNDATION also has been organizing free coaching camp for basketball players from various parts of Idukki district at De Paul Higher Secondary School, Thodupuzha since 1995.