Action from the match between Qatar and India in the 23rd FIBA Asia U-18 Championship that began at the Gharafa Stadium yesterday. Qatar won 86-73. Pictures: Jayaram
By Yash Mudgal/Doha
Qatar staved off a brave challenge from a relatively inexperienced India to post a 86-73 victory in their first Group ‘A’ encounter of the 23rd FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship at the Gharafa indoor court yesterday.
India, who had the height advantage, breathed hard on Qatar’s necks for the entire first quarter which they won 19-18, but once the latter broke away in the early part of the second quarter, the constraints of coach Jora Singh was far too conspicuous as the visitors lost the quarter.
Abdulrahman Saad and centre Abdelrahman Yehia sprung into action to spark a Qatar run. Saad scored 16 points in the quarter and Yehia scored six more points for the hosts.
Saad, the only player from both the teams to have played professional basketball, finished the match with 40 points, coming off 16-33 shooting clip in field shooting, and Yehia scored 26 points as they grabbed rebounds and blocked shots at will leaving the visitors desperate for answers. They were well supported by Mohamed Kamal al-Shawaqfeh and Mohamed Gameil Abed.
“I am very happy with the result, obviously. It was a good start for us. We were worried about the match beforehand as India have a good team. My boys played superbly at crucial moments of the match to control the game,” Qatar coach Joseph Brian Lester said.
Qatar have won two silver medals (1996, 1997) in the championship will meet China in their next group match.
Commenting over the crucial match, Lester added: “It will be very tough to play against China, the defending champions. We will be looking to do our best. We have a small squad and we have to take care of our injuries and court time. But right now the boys are a very happy lot.”
For India, Mahipal Singh with 20 points was the top-scorer. India, who finished 13th in the last two editions of the championship and came seventh in 2004, will meet Malaysia in their next match today.
Earlier in the day, defending champions China, who are aiming for a hat-trick of titles, and last year’s runners-up South Korea, won their respective first round matches easily.
China and South Korea, who have won 13 gold medals in the history of the championship, including playing the finals of the last two editions, began their quest with consummate wins.
China, who have the most illustrious past in the history of championships as they have won the gold a record 10 times, began the proceedings by beating Malaysia 95-55 in Group A, while South Korea followed suit with a 95-38 whipping of Jordan in Group B.
Zhou Qi, who guided China to the semi-finals at last month’s 5th FIBA Asia Cup in front of a home crowd at Wuhan, was fielded for less than half the game and didn’t do much, but Zhao Rui was in good form, leading the Chinese campaign in the opener. Rui threw the gauntlet for the scoring challenge in the event with 28 points, coming off a 9-15 clip in field shooting. For Malaysia, Wee Joon Loock scored 14 points.
“It was our first game. So nothing much to comment,” said China coach Fan Bin, who has returned to the helm of the China team after four years.
He guided China to their eighth gold medal at Sana, Yemen in 2010. Wang Huaiyu was the coach of the China team two years ago at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they again emerged champions.
Former champions South Korea were well served by one of their most experienced players in Byeon Junhyeong, who came up with a15-point game in a 12-man rotation that saw every player on court for almost 10 piece each. Jeon Hyunwoo spent the most time among the Korean players and finished with 14 points.
Jordan are also assured of a place in the second round from the three-team Group B but will need an inspired performance when they play against the Philippines today to gain that extra win.
In the other matches of the day, Japan defeated Iraq 81-62 in a Group D match and Khazakhstan defeated Kuwait 85-75 in a Group C clash.
