FIBA Women’s Asia Cup: India no longer a Division A Contender?
A 93–76 loss to Thailand knocks Bharat out of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division B semi-final qualifiers in Shenzhen, with the Young Cagers finally finishing 5th
July 18, Shenzhen, China: India’s return to the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup after a four-year absence ended in heartbreak, as the team fell 93–76 to Thailand in the Division B semi-final qualifiers on Friday at the Shenzhen Sports Center in China.
With the loss, India will remain in Division B and miss out on promotion to the top-tier Division A in 2026. India were last relegated from Division A in 2021 and did not feature in the 2023 edition of the tournament due to entirely avoidable internal administrative issues.
In 2025, hopes of reclaiming their place among the continent’s top-ranked teams were high, but Thailand exposed India’s tactical and athletic limitations with a fast-paced, defensively disciplined performance.
Thailand Exploits India’s Predictability
Thailand’s tight woman-to-woman marking effectively shut down India’s offensive rhythm, forcing turnovers and denying easy transition buckets. India struggled to adapt, and their reliance on zone defense proved costly, as Thailand broke through with accurate shooting and well-executed ball movement.
This was seen in Thailand’s 18 made threes, whereas India only converted three out of their 16 attempts.
India, heavily reliant on Senthil Kumar and power forward Sreekala Rani for scoring, struggled to generate points elsewhere.
The defeat marked India’s fourth straight loss to Thailand since 2009, and the most significant margin of victory yet.
The Highs and Lows of India’s Group Stage
The Indian women began their campaign with an emphatic 85–68 win over Kazakhstan, India’s largest margin of victory against the Central Asian side since 2001. But momentum faltered quickly in the next match, with a crushing 39–83 defeat to Chinese Taipei.
Taipei’s aggressive offense and suffocating woman-to-woman defensive marking overwhelmed India, leading to their second-heaviest loss against the East Asian side in 16 years. The Indian women’s basketball team has never beaten a Taipei side in a FIBA tournament.
However, India bounced back to beat Tahiti 78–55 in their final Group A match, but their inconsistency and over-dependence on their starting five remained a concern heading into the knockouts.
Has India Slipped Into Division B Mediocrity?
India's women cagers’ performance in Shenzhen has raised difficult questions about the team’s place in Asia. For the first time in 15 years, India failed to reach the final of Division B or earn a shot at promotion.
The team’s predictability in game planning, from lineup selection to defensive schemes and fast-break plays, has become a recurring issue. Teams that successfully stop India’s transition game are able to neutralize their scoring threat altogether.
In a tournament where several Division B teams are no longer weak sides, India appeared stagnant.
A Young Team With Time to Grow
Despite the disappointing finish, there are reasons for optimism. India fielded one of the youngest squads at the tournament, with an average age of just 23.3 years, significantly lower than most of their Division B rivals, with Thailand’s average at 25.0 and Chinese Taipei’s at 28.5.
With more time together, proper exposure, clever strategy, and a clear developmental roadmap, this group has the potential to grow into a stronger unit.
Lack of Pre-Tournament Exposure
Overall, India’s performance has been commendable for the level of pre-tournament exposure they received. Unlike their male counterparts, who travelled to Qatar recently, India’s women's basketball team had no exposure games leading into this year’s FIBA Asia Cup, which makes their wins and moments of competitiveness even more significant.
So, while India may not have secured promotion, the tournament served as a valuable reality check. To climb back to Division A, a serious investment in player development and tactical innovation is essential.
For now, India’s journey in Division B continues. The team wrapped up its campaign on a positive note, defeating Kazakhstan once again in the fifth-place classification game on Saturday. While the ultimate goal of promotion to Division A remains unfulfilled, the win was a reminder of the team’s potential and room to grow.
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