India clinch men’s and women’s basketball Golds

Yasaratne Gamge Reporting from Hambantota

An incident in the women’s basketball match between Sri Lanka and Nepal which Sri Lanka won 15-11. Picture by Thushara Fernando

India won gold medals in both men’s and women’s beach basketball when they defeated Sri Lanka by 22-16 and Maldives by 24-13 respectively at the South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota yesterday.

In the first half Sri Lankan men were three points behind their opponents despite a confident start where the home team led until the score was 7-all when India with some quick baskets reached 12 while the hosts remained where they were. It was 14 for India at the end of first half, with a lead of three points.

The Indians took the score to 17 while their rivals were still at 11 and the margin seemed unreachable since then. India finished the game at 22-16 leaving the silver medal for Sri Lanka.

India also grabbed the gold medal in women’s beach basketball when they overcame Maldives by 24-13 in the final. Maldives had to be satisfied with the silver medal.

In the men’s kabaddi final Pakistan continued their unbeaten run and defeated India to win the gold at the same venue yesterday. Pakistan won by a handy margin of 41-34. Indians walked away with the silver medal. Maldives had their share of the bronze medal tally when they defeated Bhutan in the men’s beach basketball by 17-14.

Sri Lanka overcame Nepal to win another bronze medal in women’s basketball at the sunny Hambantota beach by defeating the Nepalese by 15-11. The much awaited event yesterday the hope for a gold in women’s kabaddi faded away for Sri Lanka when they were comprehensively beaten by India by 57-28.

India got off to a quick start and at the end of the first half they were leading Sri Lanka comfortably by 31-11.

Though Sri Lanka managed to speed up scoring in the second half, their rivals seemed much stronger both in playing techniques and physique. The game ended at 57-28.