Off the wire
• 5,000 more British schoolchildren to be taught Mandarin  • Palestinian basketball enjoys milestone day by stunning Philippines  • Xi calls on China, U.S. to enhance local-level cooperation  • Xi urges better public security management  • Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1030 GMT, Sept. 23  • Afghan gov't beefs up security ahead of Eid al-Adha  • Experts call for reform, investment to enhance Africa's food production  • Insee confirms zero growth in France in Q2  • News Analysis: Colombia-Venezuela border agreement faces many challenges  • FLASH: TRAINS COLLIDE AT STATION IN JAKARTA, 40 PEOPLE INJURED  
You are here: 　 Home

Iran open title defense with win over Japan

Xinhua, September 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

An 86-48 victory gave Iran a comfort start at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship of men's basketball here on Wednesday as they beat Japan in a Group C match.

Hamed Ehadadi only played for less than 16 minutes and finished with nine points. All Iranian players scores while Oshin Sahakian led with a match-high 15. Mohammad Hassanzadeh added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Japan led by three points at the middle of the first period, but Iran eventually gained their bearings and banked on the outstanding performance of Sahakian to take the lead for good.

Iran, who has won three titles in the last four editions of the tournament, outclassed their opponents in every category and were dominant on both ends of the floor.

"We played a match without selfish," said Dirk Bauermann, Iran's German coach. "We pass the ball quick and well. Ehadadi provided a lot to his teammates in offense."

Joji Takeuchi led Japan with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Endi