Consolation win for India

By C. Rajshekhar Rao

NEW DELHI, DEC. 20. India scored a consolation win over Sri Lanka, which was just one of many things that went on expected lines, on the last day of the league phase, in the Asian junior women's basketball championship at the NDMC Indoor Stadium here on

Wednesday.

The semifinal line-up was decided, the finalists of the last edition, defending champion China and Chinese Taipei setting up a clash in the penultimate round, with South Korea ensuring a date with Japan to vie for the other final berth.

South Korea, which has by far the best record in this championship, having made all previous finals excluding the last one, scored an 82-72 win over the Taipei team. It was not only the best but also the most important match of the day, as it decided the topper of group `B and resultantly the semifinal line-up.

In what was a tight game in which possession mattered most, the teams fought it out tooth and nail. There were any number of snatches, and breaking into the ring needed a lot of planning. The benches were uneasy, with the Korean team even protesting against some decisions.

The two teams matched each other in scores, style of play and determination, but in the end, the versatility of the South Koreans saw them through. Chinese Taipei did not get as many rebounds as it would have liked, and its shooting skills seemed to desert it towards the end.

It was an even contest until midway into the second session, but South Korea toughened up in defence and went up 74- 64 about six minutes before close. Chinese Taipei did get some chances, but failed to convert the three-point attempts that the players tried.

For South Korea, Bang Ji Yun (23) scored some lovely baskets from an acute angle, while Hong Hyun Hee and Kim Eun Hye got some balls off the board and scored from close. Chiang Yi Lien and Sun Chieh Ping, who had done well for Chinese Taipei in previous matches, could not cut in as easily in this one, their dribbling skills doused by a tough defence. Tsai Peichen (13), Lin Chi Wen (12) and Lin Wan Hsiao (10) were the main scorers

for the losing team.

As for India, the win was its for the taking in its last group `A match, but even the 94-59 verdict was not enough to make up for the poor show in previous matches. After all, playing host and taking the pains of holding such an event looks futile when your team does not do well in home conditions. The host will now take on Hong Kong in a match to decide the ninth and tenth places.

In the last match of the league phase, China scored a

110-79 win over DPR Korea. The North Koreans matched the opposition in the first session, but the height advantage the Chinese enjoyed, proved decisive, the defending champion getting more clear looks at the board.

lThe results : Group `A : India 94 (Poonam Singh 29, Sofi Sam 20, Divya Singh 11) bt Sri Lanka 59 (M.A.K. Kumari 17,

D.S. Dilrukshi 12); Japan 78 (Yagawa Naho 21, Fujiu Kiyomi 14, Yeno Fumie 14) bt Malaysia 37; China 110 (Zhang Fan 20, Chen Nan 18, Wang Ning 14) bt DPR Korea 79 (Jon Kum Hui 26, Ryu Hyon Sun 25, Kim Mi Ok 14).

Group `B : South Korea 82 (Bang Ji Yun 23, Hong Hyun Hee 17, Kim Eun Hye 14) bt Chinese Taipei 72 (Tsai Peichen 13, Lin Chi Wen 12, Lin Wan Hsiao 10); Thailand 62 (Chantop Jintana 16, Paphataku Pimonpan 12) bt Hong Kong 42 (Chan Hiu Ying 11, Liu Chui Shan 10).

Final group standings : (Played, Won, Lost, Points for, Points against) : Group `A : China : 5, 5, 0, 502, 237; Japan 5, 4, 1, 445, 252; DPR Korea 5, 3, 2, 465, 341; Malaysia 5, 2, 3, 242, 334; India 5, 1, 4, 271, 412; Sri Lanka 5, 0, 5, 199, 548.

Group `B : South Korea 4, 4, 0, 387, 212; Chinese Taipei 4, 3, 1, 337, 222; Thailand 4, 2, 2, 233, 254; Uzbekistan 4, 1,3 ,251, 296; Hong Kong 4 ,0, 4, 153, 377.

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