The Indian basketball team suffered another loss in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers, as they went down 72-88 against Bahrain on Sunday.
Indian hoopsters started well and led 25-11 at the end of the first quarter but squandered the advantage as Bahrain dominated the rest of the game.
Bahrain reduced India’s lead to 8 points at the end of half-time and then put a dominant display in the third quarter as they raced to a 13-point lead. Bahrain was again a better side in the final quarter and wrapped up the game by 88-72.
The loss has weakened India’s chances for a direct entry to FIBA Asia Cup 2021. Indian hoopsters will face Iraq on February 19 and Lebanon on February 21 in their remaining two matches of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers.
Even winning both of their remaining matches might not confirm them finishing in top two while they will need to win at least one match to confirm a third-place finish, which will help them qualify for round 2 of the qualifiers alongside third-placed teams of five other groups.
