An over-zealous fan gate-crashed the little party the Indians had started after their 90-74 win against Malaysia, handing the coaches and the players a piece each from his bouquet of plastic flowers. The celebrations were exaggerated for a team winning its first game in six outings and one that had only just managed to cling onto its spot in the Level 1 six-team elite division of Asian basketball after a week of listlessness.

The sorry tale of India’s campaign (five losses, with only three solitary quarters where the team looked like belonging) may be rehashed two years on if the next couple of seasons pass the way the last two did. The smallest of mercies — India could have been out in the cold for four years, fighting for promotion at the next edition and then competing with the likes of China and Korea only four years hence, had they lost to Malaysia.

Respite came in the form of a lanky, awkward six-footer called Harjeet Kaur, who provided captain Geethu Anna Jose the support the latter has desperately sought throughout the tournament. Taking on the mantle of the centre, drawing the fouls, converting nine of her 13 free-throws and 11 from 13 after breaking free of the defence, the girl from Patiala tallied 31 points.

Further down the court, experienced guard Anju Lakra played her part of a ball-handler to perfection, letting P Anitha work at a more comfortable position upfront. The combination of the two seemed to be on a roll in the second half after India’s outside shooters — Prashanti Singh, Anitha and Raspreet Sidhu — had won the hosts an early 24-16 lead in the first quarter. Lakra’s entry was necessitated by Prashanti’s four fouls, but worked to India’s advantage as they pulled away in the third quarter.

... contd.