Indian eves go down to Thailand, face relegation

Relegation fear looms large over Indians, who continued with the dismal show and went down to Thailand 67-78 for their fourth successive defeat in the 23rd FIBA Asia Women Basketball Championship in Chennai.

Relegation fear looms large over Indians, who continued with the dismal show and went down to Thailand 67-78 for their fourth successive defeat in the 23rd FIBA Asia Women Basketball Championship in Chennai on Monday.

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India's defeat in the penultimate Level-I league match means even a win over Japan tomorrow will not help much the hosts as the two lower rung teams of the Level-I - Thailand and India - will now to take on top-two finishers of Level-II to avoid relegation.

Japan has won two matches - against Taipei and Thailand, and lost to China and Korea, while Thailand registered its first win on Monday.

The Level-II competition is also running simultaneously, where Malaysia and Lebanon are occupying the top-two spots and in all probability would make the play-off round.

The going was tough for India from the very beginning as Thailand, ranked 37 in the world, began on a attacking note.

India squandered an initially 4-2 lead as Thailand soon enlarged the lead from 14-8 to 22-19 in the first quarter.

Shiba Maggon, who didn't play the last match, could do little. She and Karanjit Kaur muffed several chances. Other substitutes also failed to impress as Thailand, with a tight zonal defence, led 39-32 during the breather.