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Iraq replaces Iran in soccer draw, basketball qualifiers decided at Doha
(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-27 15:00

Iraq led five qualifiers into the soccer main draw at the Asian Games on Sunday, while Syria, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan played their way into next week's preliminary round of the basketball tournament.

Iraq's chances of reaching the Asian Games soccer quarterfinals improved after it replaced suspended defending champion Iran as the seeded Pool D team in the second round draw.

The soccer second round kicks off Wednesday ahead of Friday's official opening ceremony.

Palestine withdrew from the men's volleyball competition ahead of the team's opening qualifier against Hong Kong.

While no reason for the withdrawal has yet been released, Palestinian athletes have missed two sporting events this month _ the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled and an Asian Cup soccer qualifier at Singapore _ because of difficulties encountered traveling out of the Gaza Strip due to heightened political tension in the territory.

Soccer world governing body FIFA on Wednesday suspended Iran from international soccer for failing to reinstate its elected president, Mohammed Dadgan, and comply with FIFA statutes regarding the independence of member associations.

Iran won the Asian Games title in 1974, 1990, 1998 and 2002.

Iraq was one of eight teams which did not contest the 2002 Asian Games and were forced to qualify for the main draw. Last week's withdrawal of Yemen and Turkmenistan from the second round of the under-23 tournament means five of the eight teams have progressed.

Iraq is now grouped with Hong Kong, India and the Maldives in Group D. In the qualifying round one, Iraq trounced India 6-0.

Jordan replaces Yemen in Group C, joining Thailand, Kuwait and Palestine, while Kyrgyzstan takes Turkmenistan's place in Group F with Japan, North Korea and Pakistan.

Tajikistan and Syria fill the berths originally reserved for the round one qualifiers.

Tajikstan joins Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan in Group A, and Syria lines up against China, Oman and Malaysia in Group E.

Group B remains unchanged from the original schedule and includes South Korea, Bahrain, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

The second round begins Tuesday, with the 24 teams split into six groups of four. The top team from each group, along with the top two runners up, will advance to the quarterfinals.

In men's basketball, Mohamad Nour Al Saman scored 22 points to lead Syria over Hong Kong 89-61 and into the next round.

Center Wassim Yakoub added 18 points and 14 rebounds and Madanly hit four three pointers after entering the qualifying game in the second half to finish with 12 points and three rebounds.

Li Kim Wong top scored for Hong Kong with 10 points.

Uzbekistan's Aleksandr Kozlov grabbed 20 points and 10 rebounds as Asian Games basketball first timer Palestine bowed out of qualifying.

Mikhail Shafenkov had 16 points in Uzbekistan's 78-60 win. Iyad Yousef led Palestine with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Rustam Yargaliyev had 19 points and Yevgeny Issakov grabbed 18 as five players had double figure scores to lead Kazakhstan past Kuwait 102-76.

Abdullah Al Sarraf led Kuwait with 19 points.

Uzbekistan, Syria and Kazakhstan are joined in the next round by Bahrain, which advanced after India forfeited their Thursday qualifier and subsequently withdrew its men's and women's basketball teams from the Games, along with its sepak takraw and fencing teams.

India partly reversed its decision late Friday when it re-entered in the takraw and fencing.

On the first day of men's volleyball qualifying, Saudi Arabia downed Macau 25-18, 25-20, 25-14; Lebanon rallied to beat Mongolia 25-16, 23-25, 25-11, 25-16; and Kuwait overcame the Maldives 25-22, 25-17, 25-22.

Organizers will be hoping the clear skies forecast for the next few days comes to fruition after heavy rain and strong winds caused a welcoming ceremony at the Athletes Village to be canceled due to bad weather.