Blatt holds spot for Khryapa

Viktor Khryapa (left) of Russia Men's Basketball Team (Photo credit: FIBA)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, August 1) -- Russian Men's National Basketball star Viktor Khryapa, a big factor in last year's gold-medal win at EuroBasket, is suffering from an ankle injury and has not been listed on the final roster for the Beijing Olympics. However, his coach David Blatt refuses to let him go.

"The player will be called at the last minute if he recovers from injury. In that case, he would be included in the team." Blatt said.

The name list of 12 players bound for Beijing has been announced by Russian Basketball Federation General Director Sergei Tarakanov, including John Robert Holden, Petr Samoylenko, Zakhar Pashutin, Sergey Bykov, Viktor Keiru, Vitaly Fridzon, Andrei Kirilenko, Sergei Monya, Andrei Vorontsevich, Alexey Savrasenko, Nikita Morgunov and Sasha Kaun. Six of the twelve play for CSKA Moscow.