FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers: India suffer consecutive defeats to Saudi Arabia; remain winless

The Indian basketball team are currently third in Group D.

Saudi Arabia secured an easy 81-57 victory over India in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers on Sunday, November 30. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai served as the host to the contest.

The first period ended with Saudi Arabia leading with a scoreline of 19-9. Falcons were potent to pose a strong resistance, as India were completely under pressure.

Saudi Arabia maintained their dominance in the second half as well, with Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman leading the charge for the side. Meanwhile, the Indian basketball team did well to garner points near the rim, courtesy of Kanwar Sandhu and Arvind Muthu Krishnan.

However, they failed to convert a few chances from 3-point line and free throw circle, resulting in the visitors eventually holding an edge with a score of 43-21.

In the third period, India’s missed chances cost them another period, as they failed to pass the ball through the rim on most occasions. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also fared badly near the rim, but multiple free throws helped them to add 26 points and end the period on a fine note. With the last period left, Saudi Arabia were well ahead with a scoreline of 69-36.

The fourth period witnessed the Indian team rebounding well as they exuded confidence with their aggressive mindset.

In particular, Sandhu was sensational to score points on a consistent basis, with his confidence-boosting three-pointer being his highlight. Meanwhile, Sahaij Sekhon also contributed well with his two-pointers.

Also Read: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers: Full schedule, fixtures, results, live streaming details

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia fell behind, as they missed many scoring chances. The hosts added 21 points in the period, as compared to Saudi Arabia’s 12. Although, the deficit lessened, the poor performances in the first three quarters resulted in India losing the game.

The win marks Saudi Arabia securing three straight victories this year against India. Overall, they also hold a 7-0 record in head-to-head records against the Indian team.

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman was the finest player for Saudi Arabia with 24 points, while Kanwar Sandhu led with 19 points for India. With nine rebounds and four blocks, Mohammed Alsuwailem also performed well for Saudi Arabia.

With losses in both games, India are third in the Group D standings. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia are leading the table with four points.

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