Sports43 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

India weighs size of Asian Games delegation

MUMBAI: A large number of Indian Sports Authority of India (SAI) director for the Games in South Korea, though Mehta said the sports ministry could not athletes are in the dark about their par- general Jiji Thomson told Reuters on they expect at least 70 medals. stop athletes from travelling to Incheon ticipation at the Asian Games as the yesterday. “We want to send people The SAI said last week that India was if their federations paid the bill. country’s sports officials debate send- with a realistic chance of winning not likely to compete in baseball, bowl- “I can assure you all the athletes we ing only medal hopefuls to Incheon. medals since it’s the country’s pride ing, fencing, karate, modern pen- have recommended will travel to The Indian Olympic Association that is at stake. “But we are bureau- tathlon, rugby, soft ball, soft tennis and Korea for the Asian Games,” Mehta (IOA) has sent a list of 944 athletes and crats and it’s up to the sports minister triathlon in Incheon because of the told Reuters last week. “SAI has no officials for government approval to (Sarbananda Sonowal) to take a final athletes’ poor standards. authority to decide who will go. It’s the travel to the Sept. 19-Oct. 4 Games, but call.” India sent 609 athletes in a dele- The sports minister will meet officials prerogative of the federations and the the national sports authority wants it gation of 933 to the Guangzhou Games later yesterday to determine the IOA.” However, SAI insisted govern- cut back for fear the country might be in China four years back where they strength of the delegation, according to ment clearance was mandatory. embarrassed on the world stage. participated in 35 disciplines and won Thomson. The ministry in the past has “According to the new Sports Code, “The IOA list is huge and we have 65 medals, including 14 gold. The SAI cleared federations to send athletes so the minister’s approval is necessary recommended pruning. We don’t want has recommended the government long as they take care of their own even if the federations fund their trip,” the athletes to cut a sorry figure there,” approve athletes for only 26 disciplines expenses. IOA secretary general Rajeev Thomson added. —Reuters Spain beat France 88-64 to go 4-0 at World Cup

GRANADA: Ricky Rubio’s quick hands Nicolas Batum and Antoine Diot with GROUP A set the tone and Marc Gasol had a 11 points each. IRAN 88, EGYPT 73 game-high 17 points as Spain beat Spain (4-0) returns to the raucous Hamed Haddadi dominated the paint France 88-64 Wednesday to remain Palacio de Deportes to play Serbia (2- with 23 points and 15 rebounds, and undefeated at the Basketball World 2) yesterday, when France (2-2) faces Samad Nikkah Bahrami hit six three point- Cup. Rubio had five assists, three steals Egypt (0-4) to close Group A. Also in ers as Iran (1-3) never trailed the winless and two drives down the lane for Granada, forward Marquinhos Vieira Egypt. LONDON: In this photograph taken on July 30, 2012 layups in the first quarter in his 100th made six 3-pointers in a 81-73 win for India’s midfielder Sardar Singh dribbles past oppo- appearance for the national team, with Brazil (3-1) after it weathered Serbia’s GROUP B nents during the preliminary round men’s field the Minnesota Timberwolves point explosive third quarter, when it erased ARGENTINA 81, SENEGAL 46 hockey match of the London 2012 Olympic Games guard looking eager to atone for an 18-point deficit. Indiana Pacers forward Luis Scola Spain’s loss to France at last year’s At other venues, the US, Greece and scored 22 points and hauled in 14 between Netherlands and India at the Riverbank European Championship. Slovenia also improved to 4-0 to rebounds as Argentina improved to 3-1, Arena in London. —AFP Rubio struggled later, but Spain was remain in first place in their groups positioning the South Americans to play never threatened down the stretch. with one game to go. US forward for the group’s top spot when they take France focused on containing Pau Kenneth Faried kept up his sharp on Greece in the last group phase match. Sardar Singh to Gasol, but the Chicago Bulls player still shooting as he led the US with 16 Gorgui Dieng had 11 points for Senegal scored 15 points to nearly match his points in a 106-71 over the Dominican (2-2). lead India’s brother Marc. The closest France got Republic (2-2) in Group C in Bilbao. was 19-19, but Juan Carlos Navarro In Group B in Seville, Greece dished PUERTO RICO 77, PHILIPPINES 73 sunk a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end out 23 assists to beat Croatia 76-65 J.J. Barea scored the go-head layup hockey squad the first quarter. Navarro then drained with forwards Kostas Papanikolaou and made three free throws to out-duel NEW : Seasoned midfielder Sardar Singh will lead another 3 followed by Marc also scor- and Kostas Kaimakoglou scoring 14 Andray Blatche and give Puerto Rico (1-3) India as the former Asian Games champions ing from long range. points each. Goran Dragic of the its first win of the tournament. He fin- And France never came close again. Phoenix Suns scored 14 points and ished with 30 points. Blatche scored 25 bid to regain their title later this month, Hockey India said “I am disappointed with the score Slovenia avoided an upset, holding off points for the Philippines (0-4). yesterday. spread, because we started quite well,” Angola 93-87 in Group D in Gran The 16-man squad, buoyed by a strong showing at the said France coach Vincent Collet. Canaria. GROUP C , will be coached by former “When you let them go they become Point guard Roberto Fortes scored TURKEY 77, FINLAND 73, OT Australian international Terry Walsh at the September 19- unstoppable.” France, playing without 21 points while center Yanick Moreira Cenk Akyol made a tying 3-pointer October 4 Games in the South Korean city of Incheon. star Tony Parker, was kept afloat by added 20 more for Angola (1-3). with 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation, The eight-time Olympic champions have won the Asiad and Turkey (2-2) evened its record behind 22 points from New Orleans Pelicans cen- title only twice, both times in Bangkok in 1966 and 1998. ter Omer Asik. Petteri Koponen scored 17 They finished third in Guangzhou four years ago behind points for Finland (1-3), but missed two Pakistan and Malaysia. free throws in the final seconds of regula- India are drawn in group B of the 10-nation competition tion with the Finns up by three. alongside defending champions Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman and China. Group A comprises hosts South Korea, Malaysia, NEW ZEALAND 73, UKRAINE 61 New Zealand (1-3) grabbed 48 Japan, Bangladesh and Singapore. rebounds to Ukraine’s 25, and Kirk Penney Two teams from each group will advance to the semi- scored 17 points as the Tall Blacks kept finals and the winner will gain an automatic qualification to alive their chances at the second round. the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Maxym Kornienko had 15 points for India were losing finalists to world champions Australia Ukraine (2-2). at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. India’s Asian Games squad (international appearances in brackets): GROUP D LITHUANIA, 79 KOREA 49 Goalkeeper: P R Sreejesh (106). Adas Juskevicius made six 3-pointers Defenders: (170), (77), to help ensure Lithuania (3-1) can still (95), Kothajit Singh (77), V. R. fight for first place when it plays Slovenia Raghunath (166). in the final group game. Midfielders: (81), Sardar Singh (191 - capt), (117), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam AUSTRALIA 70, MEXICO 62 BILBAO: A group performs in a time out during the Group C Basketball Aron Baynes scored 21 points in a (58), Manpreet Singh (103). World Cup match between United States and Dominican Republic, in game Australia (3-1) led for the entire sec- Forwards: Ramandeep Singh (17), Bilbao northern Spain, Wednesday. The 2014 Basketball World Cup com- ond half. Atlanta Hawks center Gustavo (47), S. V. Sunil (143), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (103), Nikkin petition takes place in various cities in Spain from Aug 30 to Sept 14. —AP Ayon had 11 points for Mexico (1-3). —AP Thimmaiah (17). —AFP