BANGKOK (Thailand) - India began their promotion bid with a 106-62 beatdown of Thailand for a rousing start to their FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2026-Division B campaign on Monday at the Nimibutr Stadium.
Eager to return to Division A after being relegated in 2022, the SABA side began to create separation late in the first before exploding for 30 in the ensuing period toward a 56-26 lead at the half to seize control.
A total of five players finished in double figures in the rout, with Viha Jonnalagadda showing the way with her 17 points on top of 5 steals and 1 block as she played a role in setting the tone for the lopsided win.
It was her triple that triggered the crucial 10-0 run, which inflated a narrow 2-point lead to 26-14 just before the opening frame came to a close to put themselves ahead by a dozen heading into the next chapter.
Team India would no longer be denied since, with their lead growing to as big as 56 points, as the host nation could no longer find any sort of solution against their much taller and more agile counterparts.
Nethra Birudavolu fell just short of a double-double with 15 points and 8 assists. Aditi Subramanian supplied 15 points as well, while Vaishnavi Pardeshi and Tarannum Begum chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.
India shot 57.1-percent from the floor thanks to their 29 assists although a big part of their offense also came from defense. They tallied 26 steals and forced their foes to commit 36 turnovers, and scored 29 off those.
Rattika Torajuen led Thailand with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in the defeat. Charlotte Henderson made 11 points while Sarah Tuukkanen and Kanokpone Trakulvera added 10 points apiece for the home team.
Meanwhile, Indonesia breezed past Oman, 127-6, in the first game of Group A. Praisey Blessed led the pack with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists as all 12 players scored at least 4 points in the lopsided victory.
Group A action continues Tuesday, July 14. India will take on Oman at 17:00 Bangkok time, serving as a prelude to the meeting between Thailand and Indonesia at 19:30 in a battle of Southeast Asian neighbors.
FIBA