The FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament Asia 2023 concluded for the Indian basketball squad as they suffered a 66-79 loss to Bahrain in Damascus, Syria, on a Thursday. Leading the day’s standout performances, Sahaij Sekhon scored an impressive 17 points.
Wrapping up the group stage, Indian team secured the third position on the points table, trailing behind Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Their record comprises two victories and three losses.
Bahrain secured a place in the upcoming 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament by clinching the top position in the Asian qualification group. This region had only a single slot available for the next phase of qualifiers, scheduled for the following year.
India commenced their campaign with impressive victories over Syria and Indonesia. Despite a close loss to the group’s highest-ranked team, Kazakhstan, India then faced resounding defeats against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The Indian men’s basketball team made its sole Olympic appearance in 1980 during the Moscow Games, securing a 12th-place finish. Their qualification was facilitated by the withdrawal of several prominent basketball nations due to political considerations.
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