Beijing, Sept 26: China, led by NBA sensation Yao Ming, drubbed India 117-62 in a quarterfinal group II match of the 22nd Asian Basketball Championships in Harbin in northeast China. Despite leading China in the initial stages, the Indians could not maintain their superiority over the towering Chinese players, who quickly regained control of the match. After India took the lead 14-11, the Chinese quickly made it 14-13 and didn't allow allowed India to dominate again. At the end of the first quarter, China were up 33-15 and they pulled away to a 61-23 lead by halftime. After the break, India improved their game by several notches but that was not enough to stop the Chinese who appeared unstoppable. At the end of the third quarter, the Chinese were up 88-39, taking the match out of India's hand. India put up a brave fight in the last quarter scoring 23 points, the most productive period for them during the entire game. But the Chinese also raced ahead and crossed the 100-mark in the end winning 117-62. India still has two more matches in the last eight round against Lebanon and Japan.
The top two finishers from the two quarterfinal groups will enter the semi-finals. The winner of the championship will qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Bureau Report