CHENNAI (India) – Qatar finally barged into the winners’ circle of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers following a 69-53 victory over India on Friday night.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 hosts showed how much they have learned from a winless Window 1 campaign last February, turning in a strong second-half showing that silenced the 7,000 home fans that trooped to the Nehru Indoor Stadium.

Big man Tyler Harris and Mike Lewis II showed the way with 17 points apiece, with the former adding 12 rebounds to his name and netting an efficiency of 25 for a triumphant debut – not just for himself but for head coach Hakan Demir as well.

Babacar Dieng was as important with 13 points, as the trio played key roles in enabling the Qataris to seize control of the game for good in the third quarter.

As India’s hot shooting from deep fizzled after the halftime break, the three went on to help the visitors capitalize on that situation, turning it up on both ends to limit their foes to just a measly 8 points while they built a 50-39 lead entering the fourth.

Muin Bek Hafeez did open the final frame with a jumper to cut the gap to a single digit, but that proved to be the closest they’d get as Ndoye Seydou sparked an 8-0 run – capped by Harris’ free throws – to restore order, 58-41, with 6:31 remaining.

Qatar would lead by as many as 18 points, 64-46, following a perfect trip to the foul line by Moustafa Fouda with less than two minutes left to play.

The team from the Gulf eventually hiked their record to 1-2 in Group E after keeping India winless after three games now, pushing them into a tougher spot.

India were led by Hafeez with 17 points, 15 of which he made in the first half alone that all came from beyond the arc before losing his touch in the second half. Pranav Prince was his lone support as the lanky winger finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Qatar will now turn their attention on Iran in an awaited rematch on November 25 in Doha, looking to exact vengeance after losing a close one in their Window 1 duel.

*This article will be updated.