FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2025: India Men in Main Draw; Women Eliminated
The Indian men's team secure commanding double digit victories over the Republic of Korea, Philippines and Macau, led by the sensational Harsh Dagar.
Singapore, 27 March 2025: The two-day qualifying draw of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2025 in Singapore presented contrasting outcomes for Indian basketball fans. While the men's team delivered a superb performance with three commanding victories and finished on top of their group, the women's team faced two challenging defeats that ended their dreams of progressing to the main draw.
Dominant Men's Team Goes 3-0
The 18th seeded Indian men's team tipped off their campaign with an emphatic 21-11 victory over the 15th seeded South Korean team. This win marked India's first-ever triumph against South Korea in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, making it a historic moment for the squad. The standout player was 20-year-old Harsh Dagar, who showcased exceptional skill by scoring 12 points, including four two-pointers, single-handedly surpassing the entire South Korean team's total.
Building on this high, India faced Macau in their second game of the tournament. The team once again displayed a fast-paced and aggressive style of play, overwhelming their opponents and grabbing a 21-6 victory. Once more, Harsh Dagar led the scoring with 12 points, bringing his total to 24 points for the day. The team's dynamic offense and cohesive defense played a big role in securing their wins.
The team finally sealed their spot in in the main draw of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2025 after another decisive 21-11 victory over a much higher-seeded Philippines team.
With these three victories, India finished on top of their qualifying draw with a whopping 63 points. They have now progressed to the main draw of the tournament, where they will take on China and Chinese Taipei.
Indian Women Stumble and Fall Short
In stark contrast, the Indian women's team faced disappointment, failing to advance after losing two out of their three qualifying matches. They faced a tough challenge in their opening match against Hong Kong, resulting in a 6-17 defeat. This was followed by a 17-13 defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei. The team struggled offensively, with players not managing to maintain consistency.
The team’s only win came against a low-seeded Guam (21-12). But it was too little too late. Multiple defensive lapses and one too many fouls contributed to their tournament ending early.
Looking Ahead
The men's team now aims to maintain their winning streak as they face tough competition in their upcoming games. As they prepare to face China and Chinese Taipei in the main draw, fans remain hopeful that this breakthrough will herald a new era for Indian 3x3 basketball. The top two teams from each Main Draw pool will progress to the knockouts, and considering India’s hot form, it can be optimistic about its chance of entering the quarterfinals.
Indian Men’s Upcoming Main Draw Schedule (IST timings)
March 28th, 2:15 pm vs Chinese Taipei
March 28th, 5:45 pm vs China
How to watch?
All the games are being live-streamed on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube Channel.
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