FIBA Olympic Asia Qualifiers: India lose to Saudi Arabia to end 2024 Olympic hopes — Highlights

IND 8-19 KSA after 8 minutes

A 10-point gap opens up and India take a timeout. They need a change in momentum here with less than 4 minutes left in Q1.

Sandhu now misses an easy collection. India look out of sorts today. No similarity with the team that put up an amazing display against Syria, Indonesia and Kazakhstan. Hafeez misses now for a 2-pointer.

Muthu Krishnan gets a 2-pointer. Phew! first points for India in a long time.

IND 6-13 KSA after 6 minutes

Saudi Arabai now start building a gap. Nothing going right for India as they fall 7 points behind. Bhriguvanshi, Prince all failing to find the basket.

IND 6-6 KSA after 4 minutes

Pranav Prince gets back India on equal terms. Saudi Arabai look dangerous on the attacks still, but India pretty sharp on the counter too.

Match Begins: Saudi Arabia take early lead

Saudi Arabai, the favourites for today, get the early lead. India hit back though. A quickly earned foul gets India on the scoreboard too.

India's odds of qualification

Kazakhstan (65th) are the best-ranked team in the tournament, followed by Saudi Arabia (68), Syria (72), India (82) and Bahrain (84).

India need two wins in their remaining two matches. However, even that might not be enough as Bahrain has a mich higher points difference if India beat Bahrain in their last match with just a few points' lead.

The Indian men's basketball has appeared in the Olympics once, finishing 12th at the Moscow 1980 Games.

India Basketball Squad

Indian basketball team: Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (captain), Muin Bek Hafeez, Arvind Kumar, Harsh Dagar, Prashant Singh Rawat, Pranav Prince, Amjyot Singh, Aravind Annadurai, Palpreet Singh Brar, Amaan Sandhu, Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, Mirant Bharatbhai Italia.

Head coach: Veselin Matic

India's Match List and Results so far

August 12, Saturday - India beat Syria 85-74

August 13, Sunday - India beat Indonesia 90-74

August 14, Monday - India lost to Kazakhstan 70-73

August 16, Wednesday - Saudi Arabia vs India - 5:30 PM

August 17, Thursday - India vs Bahrain - 5:30 PM