India’s U16 boys and girls basketball teams delivered a perfect campaign at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SABA Qualifiers, held at the Youth Centre Indoor Stadium in Male, Maldives.
Both squads emerged unbeaten champions, defeating Sri Lanka in the respective finals to book their tickets to the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025.
With crushing margins, record-breaking performances, and collective brilliance, India reasserted its dominance in the South Asian basketball region — sending out a strong signal ahead of the continental showdown.
🇮🇳 Girls Team: Undefeated and Unstoppable
India’s girls team completed a clean sweep in the round-robin phase and then produced a statement win in the final. They beat Sri Lanka 103-52 in the summit clash, with quarter-wise dominance:
Q1: 29-15 | Q2: 23-16 | Q3: 31-7 | Q4: 20-14
It was their second win over Sri Lanka in the tournament, having earlier thrashed them 104-38 in the group stage. The Indian girls also posted massive victories over Bangladesh (137-13) and Maldives (136-21).
The highlight of their campaign was the 136-21 demolition of hosts Maldives, where India led 36-2 at the end of Q1 and maintained consistent offensive pressure throughout the match. The game showcased the depth of India’s bench, the defensive tenacity of the unit, and their offensive fluidity in transition and half-court setups.
Across all matches, India’s girls maintained a scoring average of 120 points per game and conceded less than 31 — a clear testament to their dominance at both ends of the court.
Boys Team: Breaking Records, Setting Standards
India’s U16 boys team, coached by Ram Kumar Gahlawat, was equally dominant and perhaps even more historic. They won all their matches, culminating in a 94-62 victory over Sri Lanka in the final.
Final scoreline by quarters:
Q1: 24-15 | Q2: 27-10 | Q3: 21-22 | Q4: 22-15
This win came just days after a series of emphatic group-stage performances:
- 117-29 vs Bangladesh
- 151-20 vs Maldives (a potential all-time scoring record)
- 111-79 vs Sri Lanka
The 151-20 win over Maldives is particularly historic. India’s 151 points are likely the highest total ever recorded by an Indian national basketball team in any official FIBA competition — senior or junior, male or female. The game featured a 41-point first quarter, followed by scoring bursts of 38, 43, and 29 in the remaining periods.
Balanced Scoring and Suffocating Defense
In the record-setting Maldives game, India displayed ruthless balance. Eleven out of twelve players scored, with several standout performances:
- Mohammed Sani Gauri: 22 points (11/14 FG)
- Tohid Shaikh: 20 points, 14 rebounds (double-double)
- Ansh Tomer & Sujeet Uma Shankar: 19 points each
- Shekhar Rathee: 17 points
- Captain Krishna Suneriya: 10 points, 8 assists
India shot 61% from the field (64-of-104), scored 116 points in the paint, collected 77 rebounds, and forced 49 turnovers that resulted in 77 points. Their bench contributed a staggering 82 points, outscoring Maldives’ entire tally by four times.
The Indian defense allowed just 8 field goals on 64 attempts from Maldives, who shot a dismal 12.5% overall and 5% from beyond the arc (1-of-20).
Sri Lanka: Finalists Who Fought
Sri Lanka qualified for both boys and girls finals and were the only teams to test India marginally in phases. In the boys group stage match, Sri Lanka managed to hold India to a 12-point margin in the first half before faltering 111-79. In the final, they lost each quarter except the third (22-21) in the 94-62 defeat.
In the girls final, Sri Lanka kept things relatively competitive in the first two quarters but couldn’t handle the third quarter onslaught, where India outscored them 31-7.
Still, reaching the final and being the second-best team across both categories is a commendable step forward for Sri Lankan basketball.
With these results, India have officially qualified for the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025 in both boys and girls categories. The continental tournament features Asia’s best teams, and will be a crucial test of India’s youth basketball programs against stronger East and West Asian nations.
India’s clean sweep at the SABA qualifiers also highlights the growing depth of talent in the country’s youth system. The tactical clarity, physical conditioning, and confidence shown by these U16 squads reflect effective grassroots development — something that’s been in focus over the last few years.
Both Indian teams will now prepare for the next level of competition at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup, which traditionally includes powerhouses like China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Australia. While the level of opposition will be several notches higher, these commanding performances at the SABA qualifiers provide a solid foundation.
For now, India can take pride in a job done with excellence. Six wins, zero losses, multiple century-plus scoring games, and two qualification tickets — the youth of Indian basketball has announced itself with authority.
India reign supreme in South Asia once again — with their eyes now set firmly on Asia.