After an impressive start in their opening game, the Indian men cagers failed to maintain the momentum as they went down fighting 67-73 to Saudi Arabia in their second Group B qualifying round match in the basketball competition of the Asian Games.

India scripted a fightback in the fourth and final quarter after Saudi Arabia dominated the proceedings in the first three quarters but could not avoid a defeat.

The Indians finally lost by a just six points at the Samsan World Gymnasium.

Belal Fahad Alsalik was the highest scorer for Saudi Arabia with 17 points, while captain Amritpal Singh and his Amjyot Singh finished with 19 points each for India.

The Saudi Arabians took a slight lead of 19-13 after the first quarter and then extended it to 40-27 at the second break.

In the third quarter also, the Saudis managed to maintain a 13-point lead as they went into the final session at 59-46.

The Indians, however, got their act together in the last quarter and launched a ferocious attack as they earned as many as 21 points. But at the end, they fell short of Saudi Arabia, who pocketed the tie in their favour with a slender lead.

India will next take on Kazakhstan in another qualifying round match tomorrow.

HANDBALL

The Indian handball team’s dismal show continued as it lost 19-39 to South Korea in its second group D match at the 17th Asian Games.

The Indians trailed the host team 6-21 in the first half before losing the second half 13-18.

The Koreans were incisive in their striking with Hyeonsik Lee being the top-scorer, converting eight of the 15 shots he took at the goal.

Sanguk Lee sent in seven, while Doyeop Hwang scored five in the home team’s domination.

The Indians, on the other hand, found the going tough with Hardev Singh managing to convert just three of his 11 shots at the goal.

Satish Pawar top-scored for the Indian team with four goals.

In the women’s competition, India held Thailand to an exciting tie by rallying to make it 26-26.

The Indians were trailing 10-15 in the opening 30 minutes but came back strongly to take the next half 16-11 and tie the Group A match at the Suwon Gymnasium.

Manisha top-scored for India, striking eight goals in 14 attempts, while Sanjeeta contributed seven from her nine shots.

EQUISTRIANISM

Two Indian women qualify for the final round of the equestrian dressage individual event after a creditable show in the first round at the Asian Games here today.

Shruti Vora and Nadia Haridass made the cut for the final round as one of the 15 best performers in the Intermediate 1 (first round) at Dream Park Equestrian Venue here.

Shruti, who rode on her steed Akira, came up with a total percentage score of 68.474 while Nadia, on her Toranto, scored 66.105 in the Intermediate 1 contest competed among 30 best performers in the team event held yesterday.

The duo will compete in the second round on Tuesday when the scores of the first round will be added together to decide the podium finishers.

Two other Indians, Rajendra Shubhsri and Vanita Malhotra exited from the competition after occupying the last two spots among the 30 competitors