Asian Games Preview: East Asian Powerhouses to Dominate Basketball

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Asian Games Preview: East Asian Powerhouses to Dominate Basketball

With fine basketball tradition, Eastern Asian powerhouses China, South Korea looked set to dominate basketball competitions at the upcoming Busan Asian Games.

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With fine basketball tradition, Eastern Asian powerhouses China, South Korea looked set to dominate basketball competitions at the upcoming Busan Asian Games.

Four years ago, the Chinese men's team defeated South Korea in the final to crown at the Bangkok Asian Games. Led by towering centers Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi and Menk Bateer, the Walking Great wall, China continued to win the 2001 Asian championship in Shanghai and a berth at the World Championship in the United States.

Two weeks ago, China finished a disappointing 12th at Indianapolis with a 1-7 record, but that did not shake their confidence to maintain the reign in Asia.

"We will do our best to win the gold at the Asian Games," said an anonymous official from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Hosts South Korea, who missed the world championship following a surprising defeat to Lebanon in the semi-finals of the Asian championship, were considered as the most dangerous title opponents of China at Busan.

"We are sure to meet serious challenge from South Korea," said Xin Lancheng, secretary general of the CBA.

South Korea will depend on their crazy speed and sharp three-point shooters, just as they did in past international competitions.

Failing to win a single match in their world championship debut and finishing bottom of all the 16 teams competing at Indianapolis, Lebanon will strive for a medal at Busan to defend the honor of the west Asians. Philippines, Japan and Chinese Taipei will be other medal contenders in the men's basketball.

In the women's action, China and South Korea are also hot title favorites.

The Chinese women, final losers to Japan at Bangkok in 1998, stormed back to snatch the Asian championship with convincing victories over Japan and South Korea in 2001.

At the world championship being held in Jiangsu province, China have already cruised into top 12 with victories over Brazil and Senegal. Only if they could record one more win in the second round group play, the Chinese women would enter the quarter-finals of the world championship for the first time in eight years.

Sydney Olympic fourth-placers South Korea vowed to beat China.

"I believe we can beat China at the Busan Asian Games," South Korea head coach Lee Moon-Kyu said after trouncing Tunisia 124-70 at the ongoing world championship.

The South Korean women finished second of their preliminary group to join China in the second round.

"Our objective here is to beat China and make it to the semi-finals," Lee said.

Following an early exit from the world championship, traditional powerhouse Japan will be eager to defend their Asian Games title at Busan.

"We were champions at Bangkok and we are confident to win the gold medal again at Busan," said Japanese Basketball Association official Mitsuhiro Hirota. "Because we are very familiar with the Chinese and South Korean team."

"We know how they play and how to beat them," he added.

Chinese Taipei, who finished fourth at the Asian Championship last year, eyed a medal at Busan.

The Asian Games basketball competition will start on September 28 and conclude on October 14.

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