Chennai, 23 November (HS). The Indian men’s basketball team’s chances of making it to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 suffered a setback when it suffered a 53-69 defeat against lower-ranked Qatar in a Group E qualifier match at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
Indian captain Moeen Bek Hafeez top scored for India with 17 points, while Mike Lewis and Tyler James Lee Harris scored 17 points each for Qatar.
The game began with both teams exchanging several shots at each end, but it took almost two minutes for the first points to be registered through a driving layup from Qatar’s Mohammed Abbasar.
Hafeez responded with consecutive three-pointers. Experienced Amjyot Singh and Sahij Pratap Singh Sekhon kept the home team’s momentum going by moving the ball from behind the three-point line.
However, Qatar gradually gained momentum and scored eight consecutive points to end the first quarter with a 17–14 lead. India failed to convert their chances, converting only five of their 15 attempts in the first period.
In the second quarter, Pranav Prince made two quick layups to give the home team the lead. However, it did not last long as Qatar took a 10-point lead. Hafeez kept India’s scoreboard afloat and made just three three-pointers three minutes before the end of the quarter to leave his team level at 31-31. Qatar’s leading scorer in the match, Mike Lewis, found his rhythm in the closing stages of the half and hit a three with 14 seconds left to take a five-point lead.
Things went from bad to worse for India after the intermission, as Qatar withstood sustained pressure from the home crowd, breached India’s defense and took a 15-point lead.
On defense, Qatar’s players kept the home team in check, as the team never missed a shot from outside the semi-circle, missing eight of its nine three-point attempts in the quarter.
“Our biggest strength is three-point shooting and we struggled,” Indian coach Scott Fleming said during the post-match press conference. That’s the only way we can beat teams that are more athletic than us. Secondly, we knew that if we didn’t rebound the ball we would be at a disadvantage. So, those were the two biggest things.”
Just like in the first quarter, Pranav took the initiative and sparked the contest by scoring two quick baskets. Despite this, Qatar kept their foot on the pedal and took a good 11-point lead before the fourth quarter.
Hafeez opened the fourth quarter with a jump shot that sent fans into a frenzy, but Qatar responded shot-for-shot to take the game and secure their first win of the campaign.
India are bottom of their qualifying group with three matches lost and will face higher-ranked Kazakhstan on November 25, while Qatar will travel home to host Iran on the same day.
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