Indian basketball (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: India demonstrated utter resilience in the closing stages of their match against Bahrain, clinching an 81-77 victory in Group H.
This win, alongside their previous triumph over Iraq, ensured India’s advancement to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, as confirmed by the Basketball Federation of India.
Additionally, this success has qualified India for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Key performances by Arvind Krishnan and Pranav Prince, who contributed significantly on both offence and defence, were instrumental in India overcoming a challenging phase where they relinquished a 12-point lead and found themselves trailing shortly before the game concluded.
Harsh Dagar was particularly outstanding, scoring 28 points, which included a remarkable 6-of-8 from the three-point line, alongside contributing in rebounds, assists, and steals.
India’s victory also set the stage for a decisive encounter between Bahrain and Iraq, determining the final qualifier for the Asia Cup to be hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Indian team showcased their ability to regain control under pressure, especially notable in the fourth quarter, and executed crucial plays in the game’s dying moments to secure the win.
India’s head coach, Scott Flemming, expressed immense pride in the team’s performance, adding, “Really proud of our guys, you know, to come in here and win two games when it easily could’ve gone the other way. This is now our third win in the Asia Cup Qualifiers, and these are uncharted areas that we haven’t had for a long time in India. It’s all about them. I’m just trying to put them in a position to win, and they take over from here. We still have things to work on… really proud of these guys. We’re going to the Asia Cup.”