Germany clinched the last place in the 12-nation line-up at the Olympic Games men’s basketball tournament on Sunday with a 96-82 win over Puerto Rico.
Greece and Croatia had qualified on Saturday and, with Germany, will join Angola, Argentina, Australia, hosts China, Iran, Lithuania, Russia, Spain and the US in the Beijing tournament.
Dirk Nowitzki starred for Germany with 32 points on Sunday to lead his team to a fifth Olympics place, but their first since 1992.
They were also aided by the efforts of 2.13m Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman who, courtesy of his great-grandparents, became a naturalized German citizen at the start of the month.
Despite not speaking a world of German, Kaman played a key role on Sunday, scoring 10 points with 12 rebounds.
“I’ve only been here 12 days, but Dirk has waited 12 years for this to happen,” Kaman said. “I can’t even imagine the emotions that he must be feeling at this moment.”
At the Games in Beijing, the 12 teams will be split into two groups of six.
Group A sees defending champions Argentina alongside Australia, Iran, Lithuania, Russia and Croatia while Angola, China, Spain, the US, Greece and Germany make up Group B. In Beijing, the US will be looking for their first gold medal in the event since Sydney in 2000.
Since that time, their much-vaunted collection of NBA stars have suffered a series of setbacks with a humiliating sixth place at the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis and a third place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The US were also third at the 2006 world championships in Japan.
Defending Olympic champions Argentina, world champions Spain and Greece will also be among the gold medal favorites.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
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