The Saudi national basketball team made a perfect start to their journey towards qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, securing a resounding and well-deserved 75-51 victory over India. The match took place on Thursday at the Ministry of Sports Arena in Riyadh, as part of the first window of the Asian preliminary qualifiers, amidst enthusiastic support from the home crowd who cheered on the Saudi team throughout the game.
Saudi
team dominated the match from the opening whistle, fielding a starting lineup that included Marzouq Al-Mawlid, Khalid Abduljabbar, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Musab Qadi, and Mohammed Al-Suwailem. The Green Falcons finished the first quarter with a comfortable 11-point lead, 27-16. They continued their strong performance in the second quarter, extending their lead and finishing the first half 45-32, demonstrating their superior technical and tactical prowess over their opponents.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Green Falcons continuing to widen the gap during the third quarter, which ended 61-43. In the final quarter, the Saudi team completely dominated the game, securing a 24-point victory with a final score of 75-51, signaling a strong start to their long qualifying campaign.
The importance of this victory in the context of the qualifiers:
This win comes within the framework of the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which are witnessing fierce competition among the continent's teams. Winning matches played on home soil, in front of your own fans, is vital for accumulating points and boosting your chances of qualifying. This resounding victory gives the Saudi national team a tremendous morale boost before the upcoming matches and places them at the top of their group early on, reflecting the remarkable progress Saudi basketball has made in recent years, supported by the Saudi Basketball Federation and the sports leadership, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to develop the sports sector in general.
Looking ahead,
the Saudi national team is preparing for its second match in this window of qualifiers, as it will travel to face India in the return leg on Sunday, November 30th, in Chennai, India, at 3:30 PM Saudi time. The Green Falcons are aiming to repeat their victory and solidify their lead in the group. In another match within the same group, Lebanon and Qatar will meet in Beirut, Lebanon, in what is expected to be a tough encounter that will significantly impact the group standings.
