Basketball: Path to Beijing easier

Australia's win was New Zealand's win when the Opals won the women's world basketball championship for the first time yesterday.

Australia's 91-74 victory over Russia in the final in Brazil has opened the door for New Zealand to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Australia's win gave them automatic qualification for the 2008 Olympics and significantly eased New Zealand's path to Beijing.

Without having to beat their transtasman rivals in the Oceania qualifying tournament next year, the Tall Ferns should now claim that zonal berth, unless another South Pacific nation can put together a programme within the next 10 months.