India recently played two pivotal matches in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, facing off against Qatar and Kazakhstan.
Despite higher expectations for a win against Qatar, Indian fans were left disheartened by the team’s performance, resulting in a 53-69 defeat.
Known for their reliance on three-point shooting, India struggled, converting only 10 out of 40 attempts from beyond the arc and achieving an overall field goal percentage of just 30.8%. Qatar’s persistent pressure in the paint left India with few options.
This loss meant that the game against Kazakhstan would be crucial in determining India’s qualification prospects.
Although Kazakhstan, ranked 69th in the world, was favoured to win, India had other plans. The team started slowly, trailing 18-9 at the end of the first quarter.
However, a dynamic second quarter, highlighted by Kanwar Sandhu’s three triples within four minutes, shifted the momentum. India took a narrow lead at 22-21 before Palpreet Singh Brar, Pranav Prince, and captain Muin Bek Hafeez propelled the team to a 37-33 advantage at halftime.
The third quarter was decisive as India launched a 10-point run, taking control of the game. By the end of the period, the hosts had established a commanding 63-51 lead, which they extended to secure a 19-point victory.
The team executed well, making smart decisions and precise passes. Pranav Prince and Kanwar Sandhu were joint top scorers for India with 17 points each, while Vladimir Ivanov matched their tally for Kazakhstan.
This victory marked India’s first win against Kazakhstan in a major FIBA competition in 27 years.
The historic win placed India third in their group, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
India will face Iran and Qatar in the next round of qualification matches in February next year. The win against Kazakhstan will undoubtedly boost the team’s confidence as they prepare for
these crucial games.
The top two teams from each group will directly qualify, while the third- placed teams will compete in a separate qualifying event for the remaining four spots.
India’s journey in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers continues, and fans remain hopeful for a strong
finish.
