Indian basketball team has a tough task at FIBA Women's Asia Cup

Indian women's basketball team has a mountain to climb at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, which kickstarts at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The Indian Eves, ranked 45th in the world are the second lowest-ranked team in the tournament. Tied in Group A, India have three tough opponents in their group — defending champion Japan (World No.10), South Korea (World No. 18) and Chinese Taipei (World No. 39) - in Group-A of Division-A. With no domestic league existent in the country, it will not be fair to expect a lot from the home team.

India will open their campaign against the heavyweights Japan where they'll be baptised by fire, as the seemingly-unstoppable Japanese will be in quest of their fourth consecutive title at the event. India will then play last year's semi-finalists Korea. While Japan and South Korea are expected to dominate the group-stage proceedings, India will eye to pull off a victory against a comparatively weaker Chinese Taipei in the battle of relegation. To avoid relegation, India will have to stay in the top seven. The last-placed side will compete in the lower division from the next edition of the tournament. India qualified to top-tier Division-A by winning the lower Division-B title in the previous edition, held at the same venue in 2017.

Though Division B seemed like an easy challenge for India where they have tasted success in several past events, in comparison; India will be the heavy underdogs in this tournament.

Continuing his journey with Indian basketball since 2017, the Serbian coach Zoran Visic will be up for a big tactical challenge going into the tournament. India announced their 12-woman roster on the eve of a tip-off, a mixture of in-prime players and up-and-coming talents, featuring several players who have been part of the system for the past few years, experienced in tournaments like the 2017 Division B triumph and last year's Commonwealth Games in Australia. Much will be expected of Jeena PS, who is back after her stint with Ringwood Hawks in NBL-1, a semi-professional league in Australia.

India will aim to put up a decent show to ensure that they continue to play at the top division. India might play the crucial playoff game against the Philippines, the weakest team in Group B. The loser of this game will be replaced by the winner of Division B in the next iteration of this tournament-and all eyes for Team India will be focused on ensuring a victory here.

Having the support of home turf will help India and if they can register one or two big wins, it will be nothing short of a miracle.