Dubai: South Korea, Morocco, Turkey and Thailand began their campaigns on a winning note as the 10th Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Championships got under way at the Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club in Al Mamzar on Sunday.
Hot favourites South Korea got off to a promising, yet nervous start with a 71-32 mauling of an under-prepared Taiwan, while last year’s runners-up Japan suffered a stunning 46-67 defeat against Thailand. In the other two group matches, Morocco put up a dominant show for a 71-24 win over South Africa, while Turkey got the better of hosts UAE 71-24 in their Group B fixture.
Taiwan coach Lo Shin-Liang agreed that the result against a strong team like South Korea was expected.
“We did not have the necessary training camp or practice matches before coming here. Our hope now is that the team continues improving with each match so that we can use this tournament as a crucial part of our preparations for the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia,” Lo told Gulf News.
Korean captain Lee Youn Joo was pleased with the “nervous win” of his side. “The opening match is always very important for any team. This is our first time in Dubai and we felt we were not up to the mark against Taiwan. Ultimately, it is the win that matters and I am sure we will continue improving in various aspects during the next few days here,” Lee said.
“We will be up against the UAE tomorrow [Monday] and I am confident we will be more focused going into that match,” he added.
Korea outscored Taiwan 20-4 in the first quarter, but found their opponents pulling close in the second while adding ten points against 14 scored by them. The closest Taiwan came was in the penultimate period when they held on for an 11-10 advantage. But with Cho Seung Hyun and Han Hui Suk doing well under the basket Taiwan always knew their opponents were a bit ahead of them on all fronts.
Organised by the Dubai Club for People of Determination, the tournament is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.
The eight participating teams will continue round-robin matches till Tuesday evening after which the four semi-finalists will be decided. The third place play-off and final will be held on Thursday.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of this annual tournament bearing an extra significance due to 2018 being held as the ‘Year of Zayed’. Great Britain had defeated Japan to win the title last year, while hosts the UAE had ended in fourth place.
