Aussies in bid for gold medal at Deaflympics

From: Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - Jan 14, 2005

Anthony Dowsley and Sarah Wotherspoon
14jan05

THESE revved up basketballers are out to make a point or more against the champs of the court tonight at the Deaflympics.

Australian coach Daryl Beasley says his team has what it takes to win its semi-final against defending champions the US.

Beasley said it was the first time the Aussies had played the US and they were ready.

"Our goal was to reach the top four, so now we're reassessing how we are going to get the gold," he said.

Beasley said his side's secret weapon was the crowd. "They stamp their feet and create a lot of vibration," he said.

The semi-finals will be played tonight at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, with the final to be played on Saturday against either Lithuania or Slovenia. A win would cap off a golden week for the Australian team, which began with javelin thrower Amy Mills's record-breaking win on Tuesday night.

Her win set off a weeklong medal haul in which Reece-Emerson Van Beek added another gold to his collection with a win in the men's 50km Individual Points cycling race.

In athletics, the women's 4x100m relay team came from behind to claim the bronze medal.

Australia is ninth on the medal tally, with three gold, three silver and three bronze.

© Herald and Weekly Times