India Ends Olympics Pre-Qualifying Campaign with loss to Bahrain – Ekalavyas

India ended its Olympics Pre-Qualifying campaign with a 66-79 loss to Bahrain. The Olympics Pre-Qualifying tournament was held in Damascus, Syria.

India, with an overall record of 2-3 finished third, while Bahrain (5-0) topped the standings and has progressed to the Final Qualifying Tournament next year.

Disappointingly for India, it lost three games straight after starting the tournament strong with two wins. India is now out of contention for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Quarter by Quarter Breakdown:

The game's momentum shifted through the quarters, with each team showcasing their strengths and strategies:

Q1: India started strong, securing a 24-17 lead over Bahrain in the first quarter.

Q2: However, Bahrain made a significant comeback in the second quarter, outscoring India 31-15 and taking the lead at halftime.

Q3: Bahrain continued their dominant performance in the third quarter, adding another 22 points to their tally while India managed to score 12 points.

Q4: The final quarter saw India attempting a comeback, but Bahrain's defensive efforts limited them to just 9 points, allowing Bahrain to secure the victory with a final score of 79-66.

Key Players' Performances:

Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon led the Indian team with 17 points, while Aravind Annadurai contributed 11 points. On the Bahraini side, Muzamil Ameer Hamooda shone brightly with an impressive 24-point performance. Despite India's efforts, Bahrain's consistent scoring and solid teamwork secured them the win.

Missed Opportunity for Indian Basketball:

The loss against Bahrain has a broader implication for Indian basketball. By falling short in this pre-qualifying tournament, India missed out on the opportunity to potentially compete with some of the top NBA stars from Europe, including renowned names like Luka Doni, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Joki. The potential experience of facing these basketball giants could have provided a significant boost to the morale of the Indian basketball players and opened up possibilities for growth and development on a global stage.

Over the decades, the Indian basketball team has shown immense dedication and promise, and such opportunities could have paved the way for a brighter future in international basketball. While this particular chance was not realized, the Indian players and fans remain hopeful for future opportunities to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level.

Final Score: India (Sahaij Sekhon 17 pts, Aravind Annadurai 11 pts, Pranav Prince 10 reb, Amjyot Singh Gill 10 pts) lose to Bahrain (Muzamil Ameer Hamooda 24 pts, Mustafa Rashed 14pts, Devon Dwayne Chism 11 pts) 66-79 [24-17, 15-31, 12-22, 15-9]

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India Ends Olympics Pre-Qualifying Campaign with loss to Bahrain - Ekalavyas