SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Coach Anitha Pauldurai has grown confident of India's chances to return to Division A of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup with how her team has been competing in this year's Division B games.
The SABA representatives were the very first to reach the ongoing meet's Semi-Finals by completing a sweep of Group A following a dominant 71-54 victory over Samoa in the Group Phase's final day Monday.
"The journey is not easy, but the way the girls have been playing gives me a lot of confidence," she said. "If they continue with the same mindset and energy, I'm optimistic we can replicate the success of eight years ago."
Pauldurai was referring to the 2017 competitions held in Bengaluru in which Team India conquered Division B by way of a mighty five-game sweep to earn the promotion to Division A for the 2022 tournament.
Every batch is different, but I truly believe this group has the potential to achieve something special.
Back then, she was still serving as an assistant coach - a role entrusted to her shortly after retiring from competitive basketball, which ended nearly two decades of a career defined by much success.
It was quite unfortunate, however, that the program wasn't able to stay in the top level, thus finding themselves relegated back to the second division for the 2023 games and have since been trying to get out.
But 2025 could be their year and much of the credit, without a doubt, goes to the mentorship provided by the former women's team captain, who's fully embraced the task of helping hone India's future.
"The game has evolved tremendously," she reflected. "Back then, the pace was slower and the focus was more on basics. Today, the speed, physicality, and tactical awareness at the youth level are much higher."
"Players are exposed to international basketball through digital platforms, so they come in more aware of trends," she added. "At the same time, the fundamentals—teamwork, hard work, and discipline—remain constant."
"That balance between modern skills and core values is what I try to bring into my coaching," she continued.
Pauldurai, however, refuses to take all the spotlight to herself, offering that whatever India have been showing on the court is all thanks to the concerted efforts by various stakeholders putting the best possible squad.
"It's been about shaping their potential into performance. The progress we see today is the result of consistent effort, both from the federation and from the players who have committed themselves fully," she said.
Now, she and her team find themselves in the same situation as in 2017. Similar to that batch from eight years ago, the crew finished as no. 1 in Group A with a clean 3-0 record, which merits an outright trip to the Semi-Finals.
All that they're left to do is go all the way, too, and get that return ticket.
"Every batch is different, but I truly believe this group has the potential to achieve something special," said Pauldurai. "They are hardworking, committed, and they've bonded well as a team in a short time."
"Our focus is on taking it one game at a time, but the ultimate goal is, of course, promotion back to Division A," she added.
FIBA