Probe into basketball defeats

THE divisioning in basketball was being reviewed last night following big defeats for Ireland’s two women’s teams at the Loughlinstown Arena yesterday.

Ireland (1) lost by double scores to Argentina, 48-24 in their opening game of the Special Olympics World Games tournament while the Ireland (2) team suffered an even greater drubbing when they went under 42-10 to Pakistan.

“There is a meeting to discuss the matter,” Head Coach Anne Marie Whelan confirmed. “Hopefully they will make some kind of changes but if they do not then we’ll just take on the chin and work around it.”

There is already a precedent here as Mexico, Israel and Italy 2 have been moved to new divisions.

Today will be an important one for the men’s teams with back to back games at the ESB Arena in Tymon Park.

Ireland (4) will play Pakistan (1) at 11.45am While Ireland (3) face one of the tournament favourites, Kazakhstan, at 1pm. On Monday they went under by four points to another of the medal favourites, Kuwait.

“We are in there with a big chance of medals and that is what we will be working for. We have a chance in all divisions and expectations in the camp are very high,” said Ms Whelan.

Ireland won gold silver and bronze in Bocca at the RDS yesterday, gold going to Pamela Mayes, silver to Joanne Donnelly and bronze to June Webb.

Cork’s Ita O’Brien finished fifth in her singles yesterday and will be in action again in the doubles tomorrow.

One of two Munster members of the team, she bowls with the Cork Special Olympics Bowling Club, which is also coached by Dan O’Connell who is the Head Coach for Golf.