India’s much-anticipated return to the FIBA Women Asia Cup Division B after four years was a campaign that began with promise but ultimately ended in heartbreak.
Playing at the Shenzhen Sports Center in China, the Indian women’s team was determined to reclaim its place in Division A, from which it had been relegated in 2021. But after a spirited start, India’s journey ended with a fifth-place finish their lowest ever in Division B and an unfulfilled dream of promotion, now pushed back at least until 2027.
The tournament revealed India’s tactical gaps, the limitations of its predictable game plans, and the painful cost of years without consistent domestic structure and exposure. Yet, within disappointment, there were glimpses of potential and the resilience of a young squad striving to prove itself on Asia’s hardwood.
A Tournament of Highs, Lows and a Crushing Playoff Defeat
India’s campaign began brightly in the Group Stage, where the team registered an emphatic 85–68 victory over Kazakhstan. This was India’s largest margin of victory against the Central Asian side since 2001, driven by fast breaks, disciplined defensive rotations, and the scoring strength of captain Pushpa Senthil Kumar and wing player Sreekala Rani.
However, optimism quickly met harsh reality in the second group game against Chinese Taipei, historically a nemesis for India. Taiwan’s aggressive woman-to-woman marking and fluid offense handed India a bruising 39–83 defeat India’s second-heaviest loss to them in 16 years. The Indian side struggled to break the press, committed repeated turnovers, and converted only three of 16 three-point attempts, highlighting their difficulty against well-drilled defensive units.
In the final Group A game, India regained some momentum with a 78–55 win over Tahiti, finishing the group stage with a 2–1 record and progressing to the playoff semifinals. The match again showcased India’s strength when they can dictate the tempo, with Sreekala Rani leading playmaking and scoring.
Yet, the crucial playoff against Thailand was where India’s tournament ambitions collapsed. Thailand had beaten India in their last three meetings since 2009, and this time, they did so decisively, 93–76. Thailand’s tight marking disrupted India’s offensive flow, exposing a heavy dependence on a few key players. They sank 18 three-pointers to India’s three, highlighting both tactical preparation and superior shooting depth.
Pushpa Senthil Kumar and Sreekala Rani each scored 23 points, with Rani also adding eight assists and Senthil Kumar securing seven rebounds. But the rest of the team struggled to contribute meaningfully, underlining the lack of bench depth a recurring concern for Indian women’s basketball.
The semifinal loss ended any chance of promotion, as only the Division B winner advances to Division A. Instead, India played Kazakhstan again in the fifth-place classification match, where they closed the tournament on a high with a 103–77 win, but it could not hide the disappointment of missing the final and falling short of their primary goal.
Historical Context: From Division B Champions to Lowest Finish
India’s history in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division B shows both the heights once achieved and the decline now visible:
- 2007 & 2017 – India won Division B titles, securing promotion to Division A.
- 1990, 2004 – Finished runners-up.
- 1997 & 2001 – Finished third.
- 2005 – Previously recorded their lowest finish at fifth place.
- 2025 – Another fifth-place finish, now the lowest since the format evolved, missing the playoff final for the first time in 15 years.
What makes the 2025 finish harder to accept is the broader trend: a steady decline over the past five years marked by administrative lapses, missed tournaments, and a stagnation of tactical evolution.
India was relegated from Division A in 2021 and, due to internal federation issues, missed the 2023 edition entirely a gap that disrupted player development and team cohesion. The lack of domestic competitive basketball, especially the absence of a Women’s Basketball League, contrasts starkly with countries like Thailand and Chinese Taipei, where structured leagues keep athletes match-ready year-round.
Structural Weaknesses and Tactical Predictability
India’s struggles at the tournament reflect deeper structural and tactical challenges:
- Heavy dependence on two or three key players (mainly Sreekala Rani and Pushpa Senthil Kumar).
- Predictable offensive sets, often limited to quick transitions or isolations for top scorers.
- A zone defense easily exploited by teams with accurate shooters, as seen in Thailand’s 18 three-pointers.
- Lack of adaptability against high-pressure woman-to-woman marking.
- Shallow bench depth, which leaves starters fatigued and reduces scoring options.
Opponents like Thailand and Chinese Taipei came prepared with scouting reports, while India’s lack of pre-tournament exposure games made it hard to test new strategies or develop chemistry.
The Cost of Neglect: No Women’s League, Declining Results
One of the starkest realities exposed is the systemic neglect of women’s basketball in India. India remains the only major Asian basketball nation without a professional or semi-professional women’s league. Without a league, players miss out on regular high-intensity competition, tactical learning, and the visibility needed to raise the sport’s profile domestically.
Even the once-promising 3×3 format, where India showed potential in the early 2010s, has been largely ignored by administrators. As a result, despite raw talent, the Indian women’s team has been overtaken by teams with more consistent development pathways.
Signs of Promise: A Young Team With Room to Grow
Yet, the 2025 campaign was not without positives. India fielded one of the youngest squads in Division B, with an average age of 23.3 years, compared to Thailand (25.0) and Chinese Taipei (28.5). Players like Sreekala Rani have emerged as genuine two-way leaders, while Senthil Kumar continues to provide reliable scoring and rebounding.
Given proper investment, exposure tours, and participation in international club tournaments, this group has potential to improve. But for that, systemic support, professional coaching upgrades, and a domestic league are non-negotiable.
Moving Forward: Lessons Learned
India’s women’s basketball is at a crossroads:
- Retaining talent – preventing young players from quitting due to lack of opportunities.
- Tactical evolution – introducing flexible defenses and multi-option offenses rather than relying on transition alone.
- Building a domestic league – to ensure year-round match practice and scouting for new players.
- Better planning – ensuring participation in all international windows to avoid gaps like the missed 2023 edition.
If these are addressed, India could again challenge for promotion in 2027. If not, the risk is a drift into Division B mediocrity, despite the history and talent the nation possesses.
The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 was meant to be India’s comeback story. Instead, it became a stark reminder of the price of neglect and tactical rigidity. Yet, in the fight shown by a young squad and the moments of brilliance on court, there remains hope.
For now, India stays in Division B. But with courage, planning, and real investment, the next chapter could still see Indian women’s basketball rise again to its rightful place among Asia’s elite.
