Gaza-border closure denies Palestinian spikers Asian Games debut

Doha, Nov 27 (UNI) Palestine's Volleyball team withdrew from the 15th Asian Games here hours before their opener against Hong Kong after the players -- all belonging to Gaza -- were unable to get past the closed borders of the troubled city.

The entire team, which was due to make it's first appearnace in the Games, belongs to Gaza and the closed borders ensured that they could not reach the Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall yesterday for their match.

Their withdrawal, which gave Hong Kong a three sets to zero victory, has now put a question mark on Palestine's participation as a whole and the Games' organisers are saying that they would assess the situation on a day-to-day basis.

''There is no chance of the volleyball team from Palestine making it to the Games. The border in Gaza strip is still closed and no athletes or team officials can get out of Gaza. Unfortunately the whole volleyball team is from Gaza and as a result they will not make it,'' Asian Volleyball Confederation Vice-President Yim Hyung Bin told Doha-2006 official website.

''For other athletes, the situation will be assessed on a day by day basis,'' he added.

Palestine were supposed to take on United Arab Emirates in their final Group D match tomorrow but that match has also been awarded to UAE.

The match between UAE and Hong Kong today will now determine the Group winners, who will progress to the next round.

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