Allaam Ousman explores the roller coaster ride of a talented Sri Lankan basketball star

 A BASKETBALL ODYSSEY

Lubna Morseth delves into an adventure that is a testimony to the power of passion and perseverance

Before basketball, Lubna Morseth dabbled in various sports including swimming, athletics and karate. However, it was her elder sister Ashi who played a pivotal role in igniting her interest in basketball.

She reminisces: “I started playing basketball in Grade 4. But it wasn’t my initial venture into sports as I explored swimming, athletics and even gave karate a shot during my school days. Interestingly, basketball wasn’t initially on my radar but rather, something I gravitated towards later.”

“It all traces back to my sister,” recalls Morseth, who excelled at athletics, netball and basketball for Lyceum International School (Wattala).

Witnessing her sister’s passion for basketball and the gear inspired Morseth: “Her passion sparked my interest as she was deeply involved in basketball, being vice captain of the school team. Moreover, there was the allure of cool gear like shoes and clothing that she’d often receive. So why not give it a try myself?”

As a child who loved the outdoors and thrived on trying new activities, basketball soon became her life.

“I’m not someone who can simply stay inside and my parents encouraged me to try different activities in school. I enjoyed trying new things and exploring different sports,” she explains.

She found herself drawn to the intensity and fast-paced nature of the game, particularly in the 3×3 format.

“Much like rugby sevens or T20 cricket, ‘3×3 basketball’ is a shorter format. It’s faster paced and the winner is determined after 10 minutes or when one team reaches 21 points. In contrast, ‘five-a-side’ basketball continues for 40 minutes,” she points out.

Standing fairly tall at 175 centimetres, Morseth’s preference for 3×3 fuelled her drive to perform as a power forward: “I preferred playing 3×3 over five-a-side basketball, which moti­vated me to excel in that format. The faster pace and intensity ap­pealed to me, driving me to become better at it,” she says.

Throughout her basketball journey, Morseth found inspiration in both her sister and renowned players like Korean-Romanian professional Sonia Ursu-Kim and A’ja Wilson, a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star for the Las Vegas Aces.

“My sister was my initial inspiration. Later, as I became more competitive, I looked up to players like Ursu in the 3×3 format and Wilson in five-a-side basketball,” she explains.

From the outset, Morseth dreamt of representing Sri Lanka and winning medals for her country. She notes that her aim was “to wear the Sri Lankan jersey and represent the country at international games, and win medals because doing so is tough. One of my main goals was to win a medal for the country.”

Beyond basketball, she has embraced various hobbies and pastimes, including reading, travelling and exploring new restaurants. She reveals: “I also enjoy playing games like bowling and Uno in my free time.”

These interests have added depth to her life off the court, enriching her experiences and providing a balance amid her sporting pursuits.

One of the most memorable moments in Morseth’s basketball career came when she represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Argentina. “It was a proud moment, wearing the Sri Lankan jersey and competing on the international stage,” she recalls.

However, Morseth’s roller coaster ride has taken a pause since suffering an injury in October last year, during a final where she represented Commercial Credit & Finance. “It was disappointing because our team lost after my injury in the first quarter,” she recalls, ruefully.

Having gone under the knife for the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury on her right knee, she’s on the road to recovery and undergoing rehabilitation with strengthening exercises. “I hope to make a comeback to the court around July or August,” she affirms.

Despite the frustrations of being sidelined from the game she loves, Morseth is optimistic about her future in the sport: “Basketball has been a huge part of my life so not being able to play has been tough. But I’m staying positive and focussed on returning stronger than ever.”

She intends to excel academically while pursuing her passion for sports. “My immediate goal is to recover fully from my injury and return to playing basketball. Professionally, I’m studying business management and aiming to excel in my academic pursuits as well,” the 22-year-old Morseth adds.

Her message to young girls taking up sports is simple yet powerful: “Go for it. Follow your heart and pursue your passion. There’s a world of opportunities out there and you’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you give it a try.”