BEIRUT (Lebanon) - For the second time in a row, India finds itself in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams, battling for survival. This time, though, the mindset is different.
"We've got a really good group that gets along well, and that was from the beginning."
Under Coach Scott Flemming, India isn't just chasing another Asia Cup berth - they're rebuilding their identity. The culture is changing. The fight is different.
"We came together, our culture's changing," Flemming said last year. "We've got a really good group that gets along well, and that was from the beginning. Now we just needed something to encourage us."
That encouragement came in November 2024, when India pulled off a rare upset against Kazakhstan, their first win against a higher-ranked team in a long time.
Now, that momentum carries into Bahrain, where India will face two familiar opponents - Bahrain on March 22 and Iraq on March 23.
A Familiar Path, A Different Team
In 2022, India barely made it through this same tournament, edging out Palestine with a 79-77 win to claim the second qualification spot. But at Asia Cup 2022 in Jakarta, they struggled, failing to win a game in a tough group with Lebanon, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
That disappointment set the stage for a reset.
The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers didn't start well for India, as they lost every game in the first window. But instead of folding, they dug in.
By the second window, they fought back, beating Kazakhstan, which was key to securing a place in this final qualification round.
"It helps to get some confidence and encouragement for the players," Flemming said. "Now, it's great to get rewarded for this, isn't it?"
More Than Just Qualifying
For India, this tournament isn't just about making it to Jeddah for Asia Cup 2025 - it's about proving that the team is evolving.
The message is simple: win one game, then win the next.
"We've always gone one game at a time," Flemming had said after their struggle against Qatar last November.
"If we win the next game, we start talking about qualifying. But right now, the main goal is - let's get that next game."
India has been a mainstay in the Asia Cup, qualifying 10 straight times. But to keep that streak alive, they'll need to prove they belong in Bahrain, against teams they've battled before.
A second chance doesn't come often. Now, it's time to take it.
FIBA