Former AP and Hyderabad hoopster John Peters passes away in Araku Valley

Former Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad basketball player John Samuel Sukumar Peters passed away in Araku Valley, Visakhapatnam, on Thursday. The funeral was conducted at Araku Valley on Friday. He had retired from the South Central Railway a couple of years back.

John Peters was 78 years old and had been ailing for quite some time. John Peters is the son of legendary basketball administrator GM Sampath Kumar. Even though, John Peters had been living with his sister and her family in Araku Valley for the last couple of years, he kept himself abreast with the basketball developments in Hyderabad. The ever smiling and charming John Peters’ enthusiasm for the game never ebbed despite his health challenges.

The Hyderabad District Basketball Association (THDBA) expressed its profound grief and heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of John Peters. “John Samuel Sukumar Peters is a former basketball player who represented Hyderabad and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, and a distinguished ‘A’ Panel Referee of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI),” says a release issued by Norman Isaac, general secretary.

“His passing is an irreparable loss to the basketball community. His contribution to the game and his association with the basketball fraternity will be remembered with respect and gratitude,” the release stated.

“The Hyderabad District Basketball Association extends its deepest sympathies to all members of the bereaved family. May they find strength and courage to endure this profound loss. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace,” it said.