In a challenging encounter at the FIBA 3×3 U-18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, the Indian girls’ basketball team fell short against the Asian powerhouse China, losing 21-11 with 1:50 remaining. This second consecutive defeat has dashed India’s hopes of advancing in the tournament.
The Indian team, showing more promise than in their opener against Japan, initially took an aggressive approach that paid off, but defensive lapses ultimately proved costly. Despite a valiant effort and strong offensive play, India’s inability to contain China’s near-perfect shooting led to their elimination from the World Cup.
China and Japan have secured their places in the quarterfinals with two wins each, leaving India to complete their league campaign with a final match against Kyrgyzstan.
During the match against China, India’s offensive strategy, led by Madhya Pradesh’s Gunvi Agrawal, started strongly. Agrawal’s scoring prowess kept the game tied at 8-8 within the first five minutes. However, defensive shortcomings allowed China to gain momentum, as they scored five two-pointers in quick succession to pull ahead.
Wang Jiaxin of China was the standout performer, scoring eight points, while Gunvi Agrawal led for India with six points. Captain Aanaya Bhavsar and Aahana George contributed two points each.
India’s defeat underscores the need for improved defensive strategies as they prepare for their final group stage match against Kyrgyzstan.
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