The Indian basketball team’s hopes of reaching the second round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers ended after suffering a 99-56 defeat to Lebanon in its rescheduled Group D first round match in Zouk Mikael on Monday.
The basketball fixture at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex, originally scheduled for the first week of March, had been postponed due to the security situation in West Asia.
Ranked 76th in the world, the Indian basketball team is still winless after four Group D matches and is now out of contention for a place in the second round.
World No. 28 Lebanon, meanwhile, improved to three wins and a loss and became the seventh team to secure qualification for the next phase of the Asian Qualifiers.
The hosts stamped their authority on the contest from the outset, racing to a 22-7 first-quarter lead before steadily stretching the advantage.
India never led in the game, with Lebanon controlling proceedings and opening up a maximum 46-point cushion late in the fourth quarter.
Jihad El Khatib and Hayk Gyokchyan led a balanced Lebanese attack with 16 points each. Lebanon had all 12 players on the scoresheet.
Harsh Dagar was India’s best performer, finishing with a team-high 14 points in over 31 minutes on the floor.
India have previously suffered home-and-away defeats to Saudi Arabia before going down to Qatar.
Lebanon are on top of Group D, followed by Saudi Arabia. Qatar are third with two wins and as many losses.
India, currently at the bottom of the standings without a win, will play their final two matches of the qualifiers at home against Qatar and Lebanon on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
The top two teams from Group D in the ongoing first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers will advance to the second round, which will decide which teams qualify for the main event in August-September.
Qatar have already qualified for the main event and the second round as hosts of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. India have never made it to the main draw of the FIBA World Cup.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-2027-qualifiers-lebanon-vs-india-match-report
