Nepal lose to B’desh

KATHMANDU: Bangladesh defeated Nepal 91-62 in the Middle Asia Zone qualifiers for the FIBA Asian Basketball Championship, in New Delhi. Nepal played a fairly better game as compared to India, in which they lost 50-131. Bangladesh scored 18 points in the first quarter restricting Nepal to 10. Nepali players bounced back in the second quarter netting 19 points to Bangladesh’s 18. But they failed to keep up the tempo and added another 34 points in the last two quarters. Rupak Gurung top-scored for Nepal with 16 points while Bipendra Maharjan netted 14. — HNS

Powell pulls out

ROME: Asafa Powell, the 100-metre world record holder, withdrew from the Golden Gala meeting due to a lingering groin injury. Powell was to race against Olympic champion Justin Gatlin of the US in the first showdown between the pair since Powell set the new mark of 9.77 seconds in Athens on June 14. Olympic silver medallist Francis Obikwelu of Portugal also pulled out of 100m with a foot problem. Also, four-time world champion Allen Johnson of the US withdrew from the 110-meter hurdles. — AP

Speda ousts Vemic

NEWPORT: Second-seeded Vince Spadea jumped to an early lead in unusually windy conditions and beat Dusan Vemic 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals of the Hall of Fame Championships. Spadea will face fellow American Paul Goldstein, the No 7 seed. Goldstein beat Alexander Waske of Germany 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. — AP