FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers: India lose against Qatar; finish third to advance to final qualification round

The Indian men’s basketball team finished third in Group E in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

On Monday evening in Doha, India faced Qatar in a high-stakes FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers matchup, a game that could determine their path to the next qualification tournament from Group E. The final score at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall read India 61–81 Qatar, with India making a late effort to close the gap, but by then, the game was well beyond reach.

The Indian men’s basketball team started the first quarter with a strong offensive push, as Amritpal Singh opened the scoring with a baby hook, followed by back-to-back jump shots—a three-pointer from Muin Bek Hafeez and Kunwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu. This quick 7-0 run put Qatar on the back foot, forcing an early timeout.

Indian 🇮🇳 men's #basketball team finish with yet another defeat in the #FIBAAsiaCup2025 Qualifiers. 🏀🔥They go down to Qatar🇶🇦 in their last match despite putting up a tough fight.Courtesy of their 3rd place finish in the group, India will play another qualifying tournament… pic.twitter.com/EWWyQU0RQ6

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) February 24, 2025

India maintained its rhythm with fluid ball movement, and Amritpal added a mid-range jumper before dominating in the low post with a dribble-up basket. Pranav Prince extended the lead with a perimeter three, while Aravind Muthu Krishnan added a baseline pull-up. However, Qatar fought back, cutting the lead to two, and the quarter ended with India holding a narrow 18-17 advantage.

The second quarter was completely dominated by Qatar, as India struggled offensively, managing only four points throughout the period. Qatar’s defensive pressure forced multiple turnovers, leading to easy fast-break opportunities. Tyler Harris and Donte Grantham spearheaded the attack, combining crucial baskets, including a powerful dunk by Mohammed Abbasher that ignited the Qatari bench.

India’s attempts to respond were met with missed shots and costly fouls, allowing Qatar to extend their lead significantly. Despite a late free throw from Arvinder Singh and a basket from Princepal Singh, India found themselves trailing 42-22 at half-time, needing a major turnaround to stay competitive.

Also Read: FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers: Schedule, fixtures, results, India squad, live streaming details

Scott Flemming’s side came out strong in the third quarter, determined to fight back after a tough first half. The team tightened its defense, limiting Qatar’s scoring opportunities while improving their own offensive execution. Muin Bek Hafeez and Gurbaz Sandhu led the charge, knocking down key shots, while Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Pranav Prince provided crucial baskets in transition.

However, India faced setbacks as big man Amritpal Singh, the top scorer from the last match, struggled with foul trouble, limiting his impact. Princepal Singh also found himself in foul trouble, affecting India’s interior presence.

Despite these challenges, India’s defensive stops and efficient ball movement helped them outscore their opponents 19-17 in the period. Heading into the final quarter, India trailed 59-41, showing renewed intensity.

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India started the fourth quarter with momentum, making quick baskets and pushing the tempo in what became their best-scoring period. Muin Bek Hafeez and Harsh Dagar found their range from beyond the arc, while Amritpal Singh continued to dominate inside.

However, turnovers proved costly, as Qatar capitalized on India’s mistakes with transition points and second-chance opportunities. Tyler Harris and Ndoye Seydou exploited gaps in India’s defense, widening the lead.

Also Read: ‘I can’t imagine my life without India’ – Coach Scott Flemming’s vision, adaptation and nurturing Indian basketball ‘brick by brick’

Following the game, head coach Scott Flemming reflected on the team’s performance, pointing to the decisive second quarter. “I thought we defended well at times, but if you take out the second quarter, it was a pretty even game. We really struggled to score in that stretch, and that quarter was the turning point,” he said.

Despite showing resilience in the second half, India’s inability to generate offense in the second period ultimately proved costly.

Despite the loss, India’s qualification hopes remained alive. Kazakhstan’s 45-88 defeat to Iran ensured India’s place in the final qualification tournament, where they will compete for a final spot in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025. India will now battle it out alongside Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Guam, Iraq, and either Syria or Bahrain (depending on the outcome of their qualifier) in a last-chance tournament.

With only five of the third-placed teams advancing to the FIBA Asia Cup, India will need to regroup and deliver a strong performance to secure their spot in the main tournament.

Results

India: [Muin Bek Hafeez – 12 points, 6 assists, 3 steals; Amritpal Singh & Harsh Dagar – 10 points each] lost to Qatar [Tyler Harris – 24 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals; Ndoye Seydou – 15 points, 2 steals; Devonte Grantham – 11 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists] 61-81.

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