By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Thirteen-year-old Meher Bains stands tall on the basketball court – as well as the court of schoolyard opinion.
Meher from Berwick is a trail-blazing first student of Sikh background at his school, as well as the first to represent a Casey Basketball Association’s regional squad.
With a sharp jump shot in his armoury, he’s hit a career high of 30 points in a game. So he is proving a forward in more ways than one.
Along the way, he’s endured cruel taunts about his background from some of his peers.
Some teased him on the mistaken premise he was Muslim, shockingly advising he should join ISIS and detonate a suicide bomb.
“It kind of hurts me but I try to ignore it,” Meher said.
“You kind of remind yourself you’re better than these people who call you these things.”
His mother Upkar knows of other boys whose turbans were banished and hair cut by their parents to avoid teasing at school.
Now other boys of Sikh background are following his footsteps and enrolling in the supportive Berwick Chase Primary School, Ms Bains said.
“We are really involved in our boys’ schools and in sport – we are involved in the community.”
This family of six remain proud of their faith.
All four boys love their basketball, though the family’s well-worn and now broken basketball ring if perhaps suffering from too much love.
Ms Bains emphasises to her boys not to give up on their dreams – or follow the wisdom of basketball great LeBron James: “Strive for greatness”.
Meher strives for the attainable goal of US college basketball and, hopefully, the NBA.
The Casey Basketball Association has been a model of cultural acceptance, Meher’s mother said.
Meher has recently won a spot in the association’s regional under-16s side despite being one of the squad’s youngest.
He overcame the disappointment of narrowly missing the cut last year, joining a 10-week intensive coaching program fronted by former US player Lester Strong.
Strong recognised Meher as a player of focus, drive and a “clean attitude”, Meher’s mum said.
Last summer holidays, he toured University College of Santa Barbara and met legend Michael Jordan.
Meher, meanwhile, has sound advice to overcome vilification: “Just keep on believing what you believe in.
“Keep your faith.”
