India beats Bahrain to secure Asia Cup spot

In a surprising match, the Indian basketball team, led by 19-year-old Harsh Dagar, defeated Bahrain 81-77. This victory on Sunday secured India's place in the upcoming Asia Cup. The match took place in Manama, where India displayed remarkable three-point shooting and strong rebounding skills. Harsh Dagar scored a team-high 28 points, with 18 of those coming from three-pointers. This prompted a strong performance from India, which is ranked 81st in the world, against Bahrain, which is ranked 66th. The win marks India's 11th consecutive qualification for the Asia Cup. India improved its rebounding after a previous match against Iraq. The team dominated the boards, grabbing 48 rebounds compared to Bahrain's 26. Palpreet Singh Brar was crucial, collecting 16 rebounds. Kanwar Sandhu contributed 15 points, while team captain Muin Bek Hafeez and Pranav Prince each scored 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Scott Flemming, the American coach, expressed pride in the team's performance. He remarked that winning on an opponent's home court is always rewarding. Dagar echoed these sentiments, noting the team's commitment to hard play throughout the game. With this win, India continues to aim higher in international basketball. The Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Jeddah from August 5 to 17.