27 Nov 2024
Tuesday 8 July 2014 - 00:53
Story Code : 105479

Iran wheelchair b-ballers edge past Japan, advance to quarters

Iran wheelchair b-ballers edge past Japan, advance to quarters
[caption id="attachment_105481" align="alignright" width="250"] Iran men's national wheelchair basketball team[/caption]
Iran men's national wheelchair basketball team has advanced to the the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in South Korea following a hard-fought victory over the Japanese team.
In a match held at the Samsan World Sports Complex in South Koreas northwestern port city of Incheon on Monday morning, Iranian physically-challenged athletes emerged victorious in their last group stage fixture and got past the Samurais 73-69.

Earlier in the tournament, the Iranian outfit had suffered two straight losses at the hands of Spain and the Netherlands.

On Saturday, the Iranians fell to a 66-45 defeat to Spaniards in a Group B match followed by a 48-42 loss to the Dutch later in the day.

The 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships started in Incheon on July 5, and will run until July 14.

A total of 320 athletes from 16 countries are competing in the tournament -- making it the largest event in its history. Sixteen teams were divided into four groups of four each in the first round.

Mexico, Argentina, South Korea and Great Britain were in Group A.

Spain, who finished third at the European Championships, had been pitted against the Netherlands, Iran and Japan in Group B.

Group C consisted of London 2012 Paralympic bronze medalists the United States, Turkey, Algeria and Colombia.

Elsewhere, Australian wheelchair basketball players faced Italians, who finished fourth at the last World Championships in 2010, Swedes, who narrowly missed out on bronze at the European Championships in 2010, and Germans, who finished sixth at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in Group D.

Paralympic silver medalists Australia are looking to retain their men's world title at the 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships.

However, they will face stiff competition in this task, with the United States undoubtedly fancying their chances as well as European champions Great Britain.

By Press TV

 

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