As of February 25, 2025, the most recent development in Indian basketball was the national team’s 81-61 loss to Qatar in the last Group E match of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. With this unfortunate setback, India finished third in their group and did not qualify for the main tournament directly. To remain in contention for a ticket in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, Despite this defeat, India remains in contention and must now advance to the second qualification process, where they will battle against other third-placed teams for a spot in the final event.
Match recap: India vs. Qatar
India started the encounter against Qatar hoping to secure a significant victory that would have increased their prospects of direct qualification. Qatar, playing at home, dominated from the start, demonstrating greater shot accuracy and defensive strength.
First Half: Qatar opened the game with a 10-2 scoring spree, taking advantage of India’s early turnovers and lack of defensive cooperation. India struggled to stop Qatar’s perimeter shooters, allowing them to make multiple uncontested three-pointers. Despite a few mid-range goals by players, India trailed 22-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Half: Key Player Performance stepped up, scoring seven points in a row, including a three-pointer that cut the deficit to seven points. India resorted to a zone defence, which reduced Qatar’s inside scoring but did not completely eliminate their perimeter shooting. However, turnovers remained, and Qatar continued to dominate the rebounds, resulting in second-chance scores. Qatar’s defence forced numerous mistakes, limiting India’s scoring opportunities and ultimately securing an 81-61 victory.
India’s Performance in Group E
India’s performance in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers had its ups and downs. They secured critical victories earlier in the competition but stumbled at vital moments, finishing third in Group E. The top two teams in each group advance to the main event, while the third-place teams must go through an additional qualifying round.
What is next for Team India?
Despite missing out on direct qualification, India remains in contention for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 via the second qualification phase. This will most likely require a playoff against other third-placed teams from various groups, where they will compete for a position in the final event. The path ahead will not be simple, but India’s basketball federation and coaching staff must recover, assess their shortcomings, and prepare for the forthcoming difficulties. To compete at the best level in Asia, emphasis must be placed on increasing defensive resilience, three-point shooting, and turnover reduction.
Conclusion
India’s basketball squad has made consistent development over the years, but their loss to Qatar highlighted areas for growth. With fresh resolve and tactical improvements, they still have a chance to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 and establish themselves on the international stage. This setback should be used as a learning opportunity, forcing the squad to improve their strategies and elevate their game to compete with Asia’s greatest teams. The road is not done, and India still has the opportunity to make a big comeback on the international stage.
“India lost 81-61 to Qatar in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, placing third in Group E. Now they must compete in further qualifications to secure a tournament spot”.
