SABA Women’s Championship 2025 is nearing its conclusion as the Indian basketball team prevailed over Maldives 113-25 in its second match of the tournament
This means that the Indian team which is 79th in the FIBA rankings, remains undefeated in the tournament. They had earlier defeated unranked Nepal 113-32 in their tournament opener on Sunday.
Maldives, currently unranked, also reigned supreme over Nepal in their first game in the tournament by a 53-46 scoreline.
India and Maldives will face each other once again in the final of the SABA Women’s Championship on Wednesday.
In Sunday’s match, India’s Sathya Krishnamurthi top-scored in the match with 19 points while Harshitha Kelttira Bopaiah notched up 16.
Aminath Israau Abdul Shukoor, grabbed six points, was the leading offensive contributor for the Maldives.
India were quick off the blocks on Tuesday after a three-pointer by captain Sreekala Rani kickstarted proceedings. Maldives’ first point in the match, meanwhile, came thanks to a free throw.
The Indian women’s basketball team, on the other hand, looked more confident on the court and continued scoring field goals at regular intervals.
Harshitha Kelttira Bopaiah drilled a three-pointer late in the first quarter while Susan Florentina Saji added the final points of the period as India closed out a formidable opening quarter with a convincing 26-8 lead.
The second quarter opened with another three-pointer by Harshitha Kelttira Bopaiah and it set the tone for the rest of the game as India went on a 20-0 run.
Maldives had opportunities to score from the free-throw line but they failed to capitalize. However, they did manage to sink a three-pointer in the second quarter as the teams went into the half-time interval with the score reading 56-13 in India’s favour.
Also Read: SABA Women’s Championship 2025: India’s Quest for Basketball Supremacy
Aneesha Cleetus opened India’s scoring in the third quarter with three consecutive baskets while Sathya Krishnamurthi followed up with a three-point play and a steal-to-three-pointer sequence as the hosts ended the quarter with an 80-20 lead.
The final quarter was also a one-sided affair as India comfortably closed the match out.
