Following a heartbreaking loss to reigning champions Australia in its first game, India’s U16 boys basketball team bounced back with a morale-boosting victory against Lebanon.
The FIBA U16 Asian Championship is now ongoing at Doha’s Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium.
India hit all the right buttons from the outset against Lebanon Wednesday night (September 18), which was coming off an easy win over Sri Lanka.
India’s enthusiasm was obvious on both ends of the pitch, particularly defensively. The team, anxious for its first win and maybe still stinging from the humiliation at the hands of the Australians, played with great energy in the first half.
India led 27-16 at the end of the first quarter, 46-28 at halftime, and seemed to have an unassailable 26-point advantage at the 5:54 mark of the third quarter.
This is India’s first win against Lebanon at the U16 boys’ level in three head-to-head meetings.
Even more intriguing, this victory cannot be termed an upset because the Indian boys’ global rating (which is a combined ranking for U16 and U18 levels) is 34, whereas Lebanon’s is 39.
India will play Sri Lanka in their last group round game today at 5 p.m. IST. With another win, India will be the second seed in Group A, after Australia, and will play in the pre-quarterfinals.
Featured Image: FIBA.basketball