BASKETBALL N.Z. Seeks Entry To Asian Games

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 5

BASKETBALL N.Z. Seeks Entry To Asian Games

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) SINGAPORE, September 18. The New Zealand Basketball Association had applied to be allowed to compete in future Asian Games, Mr N. A. Adams, manager of the touring Dominion basketball team, said at Singapore yesterday.

Ten basketball players and three officials from New Zealand arrived here on the first leg of their Far East tour. They will play two matches in Singapore, then travel to Malaya, Bangkok, Manila. Taipei and Hong Kong to play against representative sides before returning to New Zealand on October 17. Mr Adams said today the main purpose of the tour was to learn the technique from the countries they would be visiting. Olympic Ambition He said his association was “very desirous of competing in the next Olympic Games. To compete, we" must satisfy our Olympic Council of our standard in games against other world ranking players. For this reason we have undertaken this tour.’’ Mr Adams added that the

association had also written to all the countries who are members of the Asian federation asking them to support the application. “This Far East, tour can be considered also as a goodwill visit,” Mr Adams said. Seeking Support

“Besides playing 18 matches in the six-week tour, we will also be seeking support and recommendation to the Asian Games. "Unless we visit and create closer relationships with other countries, it will be difficult to invite them to visit New Zealand, which is also our aim." The New Zealand team lost no time in getting down to serious practice prior to their match against Tong Keng, the Singapore senior basketball champions, tonight, and against a Singapore side on Wednesday.