The Indian basketball team fought hard but eventually succumbed to an 83-39 defeat to Chinese Taipei in its second FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Division B Group A match at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre in the People’s Republic of China on Monday.
Anmolpreet Kaur was India’s top scorer with eight points, while Pushpa Senthil Kumar contributed with seven. Yu-Ting Lin of Chinese Taipei was the top scorer in the match with a tally of 13.
India, world No. 15 in the FIBA basketball rankings, opened the scoring with Pushpa Senthil Kumar, the hero of India’s win over Kazakhstan in Sunday’s opener, sinking a two-pointer from a quick breakaway.
However, it was the only time India led in the entire contest as world No. 6 Chinese Taipei raced to a 19-10 lead by the end of the first quarter before extending it to 39-19 at the stroke of half-time.
Chinese Taipei, the top division runners-up from back in 1972, continued to dominate the court
The Indian basketball team will face an unranked Tahiti in its final FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Division B Group A match on Wednesday.
India are returning to the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup fold after a four-year absence.
They missed the 2023 edition following their relegation from Division A in 2021 and are now competing in Division B at this year’s continental championship.
A total of eight teams, divided into two groups, are competing in Division B of the 31st FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. India have been drawn in Group A with Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei and Tahiti.
After round robin matches, the two group toppers will qualify directly for the semi-finals, while the second and third-placed teams from each group will compete in the playoffs for the other two spots in the semis.
The team that eventually wins the Division B final will be promoted to Division A for the next edition.
Monday’s result keeps Chinese Taipei at the top of the Group A standings with two wins out of two, while India are second with one victory from two outings.
Kazakhstan and Tahiti, who are due to meet later today, are third and fourth, respectively.
