Bahrain bowed out of the men’s basketball tournament at the 19th Asian Games yesterday in Hangzhou, China.

The Kingdom’s senior national team lost to their heavily favoured counterparts from South Korea 73-88 in their play-off contest for a spot in the quarter-finals. The nationals put in a valiant effort to fight back in the fourth quarter after going down by as many as 29 points earlier on. The result confirmed their exit from the Hangzhou Asiad, where the nationals won one of their three preliminary round games en route to securing their place in yesterday’s play-offs.

South Korea marched on to take on China in the round of eight today. Other quarters match-ups include Jordan facing Saudi Arabia, Japan taking on Chinese-Taipei and Iran playing the Philippines. Bahrain kept things close in the opening period yesterday, trailing just 20-24, but the South Koreans nearly doubled the Bahrainis’ output in the second quarter to take a commanding 55-36 lead at the half.

They continued to dominate in the third and went up 74-45 following a Yungi Ha threepoint play. They then took a 75-51 advantage into the final canto where the Bahrainis reduced the final deficit.

Wayne Chism had 20 points and 15 rebounds to spearhead the nationals in defeat, while Maitham Jameel added 15 to go with six assists and Alwatheq Ali scored 14. Ha was South Korea’s top scorer with 16 while Hongseok Yang and Jongkyu Kim chipped in with 12 apiece.

With Bahrain’s elimination from the men’s basketball tournament, only the senior men’s national handball squad are still in medal contention in the teams’ competitions in Hangzhou. The Bahrainis will be in action today in a thrilling semi-final encounter with Japan. The game is scheduled for an 11am start, Bahrain time, and it will be played at Zhejiang Gongshang University Sports Centre.

The winners advance to the gold medal game, where they will face the victors from the other semis contest between defending champions Qatar and Kuwait, slated for 1pm today, Bahrain. Bahrain head into the clash with an undefeated record, while Japan have just one loss so far.

Also for the Kingdom’s Asian Games delegation today, Ahmed Madan will race in the men’s individual time trial in road cycling. He will be one of 14 participants in the event, scheduled for a 9am start, Bahrain time. Madan is one of four Bahrainis on the cycling team. The others are Sayed Ahmed Alawi, Jawad Mansoor and Ahmed Naser. All four riders will be competing in the men’s road race, scheduled for Thursday.