The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : India struggles to win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Sport

Sport - Basketball

India struggles to win

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, SEPT. 14. India was far from impressive, but beat Hong Kong China 69-51 to set up an interesting tussle against Yemen in Group `D' in the 18th Asian Basketball Championship for junior men at the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, Hanumanthnagar, here today. Yemen demolished last year's semifinalist Qatar 99-46 in another match.

Captain Jagdeep Singh looked tentative throughout and it was left to the skinny and skilful Talwinderjit Singh to keep the score moving. With the induction of Srinivas Naik, India broke the shackles to take a 36-17 lead at half-time. The second quarter, when Hong Kong managed just five points, proved its undoing and it also committed many fouls.

The lead was maintained despite a late surge by So Yi Chun and Lian Man Hung who narrowed the margin for Hong Kong.

Flattering to deceive

Japan flattered to deceive and last year's runner-up Iran romped past its first major hurdle in Group `B'. The 84-50 verdict should do Iran a world of good.

Reigning champion China also won, but the 84-56 victory over Saudi Arabia came after a stuttering start that raised a few eyebrows. But once the Chinese seized the initiative, it was smooth sailing all the way.

Being tall is one thing. But using physique to a telling effect so that the match itself revolved around him, which the 223cm tall Jaber Darrehsari displayed in Iran's victory, was imposing.

With speed being its forte, the Japanese rattled the fancied Iranians early on. With Sasaki Toru and Kawamura Takuya finding the hoop from far, Iran's defensive strategy did take a beating. But the match virtually ended after the first quarter despite the scores being tied at 18-all.

Jaber was brought into play with regularity under the offensive board and with Arn Chgani and Akbari Bishei on target from the angles, Iran simply switched gears to take a 35-22 halftime lead.

The match was all over then, but in the last quarter, Kawamura Takuya, Gaku Arao and Ota Takumi made the scoreline look more closer.

The match, however, was won by Jaber who towered over his rivals and effected a few dunks.

Off-target

Japan's outside shooting was awful in the second and third quarters and the fact that it hardly got much room under the offensive board let the team down. The close marking and the timely interceptions that Iran effected also took the sting out of Japan's aggressive instincts visible in the first quarter.

Kazakhstan too good

Kazakhstan dwarfed Singapore in all aspects of the game and won 78-34 in the tournament opener, also in group `A.' Leading 45-18 at the halfway stage, Kazakhs revelled with Maxim Voyeikov (15) and Ponomarev Anton (14) leading the onslaught, which left the Singapore boys gasping. In the second quarter Singapore managed just six points against Kazakhstan's 23.

In the third match, China was slow to start and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Salah and Mohamad Asaad found the hoop from a distance. But then the Chinese were warming up nicely and once it did, the speed and precision that the Chinese displayed was awesome.

Wang Nan and Chen Jianghua were unerring while Wu Qian and Guo Lei stood rock-like in defence.

The matches did go ahead with the clock but an electronic scoreboard, running time and 24 seconds clock were sorely missed for the first match between Kazakhstan and Singapore.

Though the 24 seconds and the match clock did function in the second match, mediapersons and the general public were puzzled over the absence of an electronic scoreboard, which is mandatory for any international event.

The results:

Group `A': China 84 (Wang Nan 15, Chen Jianghua 11, Wang Yong 11) bt Saudi Arabia 56 (Mohd. Salah 12, Yahya Ali 10); Kazakhstan 78 (Maxim Voyeikov 15, Ponomarev Anton 14) bt Singapore 34 (Oh Wei Jie 12).

Group `B': Iran 84 (Jaber Darrehsari 39, Ali Baheran 12, Akbari Bisheh 10) bt Japan 50 (Kawamura Takuya 15, Gaku Arao 12).

Group `D': India 69 (Talwinderjit Singh 21, Bijobi Vakkachan 12, Jagdeep Singh 12) bt Hong Kong China 51 (So Yi Chun 13); Yemen 99 (Badr Mastor 17, Adel Bourji 16, S.A. Hanbasi 15, Samer Al Asbha 14) bt Qatar 46 (Majid Mohammed 24).

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