Date:13/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/13/stories/2004091303821700.htm

Sport - Basketball

Junior Asian championship from tomorrow

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, SEPT. 12. The powerhouses from East Asia — China, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong China are expected to mow down the challenge from the rest of Asia when the 18th edition of the junior men's Asian basketball championship commences at the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex in Hanumanth Nagar here on Tuesday (Sept. 14).

Iran, runner-up to China in the last edition in Kuwait and Qatar, which finished fourth could still be the teams that the East Asian countries will have to contend with, though Kuwait and the Philippines will seek to redeem their standing.

India had finished 13th in the last edition, but by virtue of being the host, it could choose its group and has understandably opted for group `D,' which has relatively weaker teams in Hong Kong China, Yemen and Qatar. The top two teams from each group will again be divided into two pools and will vie for top eight honours with the third and fourth finishers in the preliminary league clashing from two groups for the remaining slots.

India begins its campaign against Hong Kong China in the fifth match of the opening day. The boys under chief coach B.S. Hooda are capable of springing a few surprises with local support and improve considerably on its last year's position.

Venue changed

The event, initially scheduled to be held at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor stadium, has been shifted to the newly constructed Rajiv Gandhi Indoor stadium in Hanumanth Nagar. The new venue is likely to host all the preliminary matches besides the inaugural function and then shifted to the Sree Kanteerava Indoor facility once the `wooden' flooring is done.

The Karnataka State Basketball Association (KSBA) sent the specifications of the wooden flooring to the U.S. from where the planks are being imported. But due to the all-India truckers' strike the consignment could not be offloaded at Chennai and that subsequently delayed the work. "The load should reach us in a day or two and then it will take five days to be laid and polished. The event will be shifted to the original venue from Sept. 18," assured K. Govindaraj, the KSBA secretary.

The groupings: Preliminary Round: Group A: China, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore. Group B: Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Chinese Taipei. Group C: Korea, The Philippines, Kuwait, Lebanon. Group D: Qatar, Hong Kong China, Yemen and India.

The Indian team: B. Sandeep Yadav (A.P.), Sanjay, Vinod (Del), Indervijay Singh (Guj), Srinivas Naik, R. Kaushal (Kar), Yadurinder Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Talvinder Jeet Singh, Mandeep Singh (all Punjab), Vijabi Vakkachan, Anoop M (both Ker). Stand-byes: Rakesh Kumar (U.P.), V. Arunchandra Doss (T.N.). Coach: B.S. Hooda. Asst. coach: P.C. Anthony. Manager: R. Rajan. Physio: Vipin Mahendrarao.