FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup 2025: India Edges Iran in Thrilling 70-67 Comeback Win
Captain Reva Kulkarni leads from the front with 20 points, including a clutch shot to tie the game at 67-all with less than two minutes to play.
Malaysia, September 13, 2025: Team India’s girls beat Iran 70-67 in their opener at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup 2025. The game had fans at Malaysia’s Arena Seremban on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
India started strong, racing to a 21-14 advantage after the first quarter behind their fast-paced offense and sharp shooting. But Iran regrouped quickly, clamping down defensively in the second frame. Team Melli outscored India 19-11, erasing the deficit and pulling the contest into a tight battle at halftime.
Sloppy play and turnovers allowed Iran to carry that edge into the third with a 21-18 advantage. By the time the final period began, India was staring at a deficit, trailing 54-50, and down by as many as 11 points early in the fourth.
That’s when the comeback began.
The Turning Point
Captain Reva Kulkarni ignited the rally, draining four out of India’s nine three-pointers, including a clutch shot to tie the game at 67-all with less than two minutes to play. She finished with a game high 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, setting the tone on both ends of the floor.
Moments later, India’s Mahek Sharma delivered the final blow with another three-point play with 1:12 remaining that broke the deadlock and sealed the win.
Despite their mid-game slump, India’s efficiency proved vital in crunch time. They shot 41.8% from the field compared to Iran’s 32.9%. India also held a huge advantage at the line, making 88.2% of free throws compared to Iran’s 48.2%.
India even had the edge in two-point field goals, 48.1% to Iran’s 32.9%.
Looking Ahead
Despite Iran’s dominance in the paint and better transition game, India stayed in it with superior shooting and timely execution in the half-court. Their ability to flip the game late also underlined their mental toughness.
The thrilling win not only keeps India alive in the competition but also makes them one of the most dangerous teams to watch at the 2025 U16 Women’s Asia Cup Div B.
The Young Cagers’ next test comes against Uzbekistan, where they’ll aim to build on this momentum. A win there could firmly establish them as group leaders and underline their credentials as a rising force in women's youth basketball.
India (Reva Kulkarni 20 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast; Mahek Sharma 15 pts, 13 reb; Aditi Subramanian 10 pts) bt Iran (Mobina Bereihi 18 pts, 4 ast; Elina KazemEvini 13 pts, 5 reb; Sara Mokhtari 11pts, 8 reb) 70-67 [21-14, 11-19, 18-21, 20-13]
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