India's FIBA Asia Cup Struggles Continue with Defeat to China

India's basketball squad endured another setback on Thursday, succumbing to China with a score of 100-69 in their second Group C encounter at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025. Ranked 76th globally, India entered the game after nearly clinching a historic victory against Jordan but ultimately fell short against the formidable 30th-ranked Chinese team.

Sahaij Sekhon emerged as India's leading scorer, netting 14 points, while China's Mingxuan Hu and Jiayi Zhao each contributed 17 points to their team's tally, according to Olympics.com. Palpreet Singh Brar initiated the scoreboard action for India with a two-pointer, but China quickly gained momentum with a 12-point streak, eventually ending the first quarter with a 29-14 lead.

China, boasting 16 FIBA Asia Cup titles, continued to dominate the court, extending their advantage to 53-31 by halftime. Their prowess persisted through the latter quarters, ensuring a decisive victory and maintaining their unbeaten status in Group C after their initial triumph over Saudi Arabia. Facing potential elimination, India now looks towards their final group match against host nation Saudi Arabia, where a win is essential to keep their tournament hopes alive.

(With inputs from agencies.)