imported>BrownHairedGirl: removed Category:Organisations based in Madhya Pradesh; added Category:Organisations based in Indore using HotCat

2021-03-24T19:23:11Z

removed Category:Organisations based in Madhya Pradesh; added Category:Organisations based in Indore using HotCat

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{{Infobox sport governing body
|name = Softball Association of India
|abbrev = SBAI
|logo = Softball Association of India logo.gif
|logosize =
|sport = [[Softball]]
|category =
|image =
|caption =
|jurisdiction = National
|membership = State/UT associations
|founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1961|11|21}}
|aff = [[International Softball Federation]]
|affdate = 1965
|region = [[Softball Confederation of Asia]]
|regionyear =
|headquarters = 26, Sikh Mohalla, M.G. Road, [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=http://www.softballindia.com/contact_us.php |website=Softball Association of India |accessdate=12 July 2018}}</ref>
|president = Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi
|chiefexec = Pravin Anaokar
|secretary = L.R Maurya<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive Committee |url=http://www.softballindia.com/Executive_committee.php |website=Softball Association of India |accessdate=12 July 2018}}</ref>
|coach =
|womenscoach =
|key staff =
|operating income =
|sponsor =
|url = www.softballindia.com
|countryflag = IND
|more =
}}
The '''Softball Association of India (SBAI)''' is the [[governing body]] for [[softball]] in [[India]]. Legally, it is a [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit association]] registered under the [[Societies Registration Act, 1860]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us - SBAI |url=http://www.softballindia.com/about_us.php |website=Softball Association of India |accessdate=12 July 2018}}</ref>

==History==
Softball was first played in India in 1944 by [[United States Army]] servicemen stationed in [[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]] during [[World War II]]. Some locals played with the Americans and learned the game from them. Among them was Dashrath Mal Mehta, considered the father of Indian softball. Mehta founded the Softball Association of India in Jodhpur on 21 November 1961 with the support of L.M. Singhavi, Anand Singh Kachawa, Madanlal Pungalia, and K.D. Gautam. The Association came into contact with members of the [[International Softball Federation]] (ISF), the sport's international governing body, in 1964 and invited them to play a game in India. The SBAI officially became affiliated with the ISF in 1965.<ref name="SBAI history">{{cite web |title=History of Softball in India |url=http://www.softballindia.com/history.php |website=Softball Association of India |accessdate=12 July 2018}}</ref>

The [[United States women's national softball team|United States women's softball team]] visited India and played an exhibition game against an Indian team at [[Calcutta]] in 1965. The American team was accompanied by ISF President W.W. Khetan, Secretary Don A. Porter, Umpire in Chief Dickston who conducted the first official clinic for Indian softball umpires. The delegation also helped the SBAI publish the first rule book on softball in the country, and the system of umpiring the game.

The Association was officially recognized by the [[Indian Olympic Association]] in 1967, and in the same year, it organized the first National Softball Championship for men and women at Jodhpur in 1967. Teams from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan participated in the tournament. The SBAI was recognized by the [[Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs]] in 1973.<ref name="SBAI history"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.softballindia.com/}}

{{Sports governing bodies in India}}

[[Category:Sports governing bodies in India]]
[[Category:Softball in India]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1961]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Indore]]

Softball Association of India - Revision history

imported>BrownHairedGirl: removed Category:Organisations based in Madhya Pradesh; added Category:Organisations based in Indore using HotCat