India placed in tough group in FIBA Asia Men's Basketball

Bengaluru: India has been placed in a tough group which included defending champions Iran in the 28th FIBA Asia Men's Basketball Championship that will be held in Changsha in China from September 23 to October 3.

The other teams in Group A are Japan and Malaysia.

The 12-member Indian squad under head coach Sat Prakash were provided with their kits at a ceremony held here on Saturday.

The FIBA Asia Championship serves as the qualifying event for the Rio Olympic Games next year.

"Most of our core team is intact, so we hope to perform very well. Our primary goal is to win our first game against Malaysia, and give tough fights to Iran and Japan. If we can manage that, we will progress to the second round," said veteran guard and captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi.

Bhriguvanshi returns to the national side along with Yadwinder Singh, Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh Gill. Others who made a comeback to the national side include Akilan Pari and Vinay Kaushik.

Forwards Amritpal and Amjyot are, notably, the first Indian players to secure professional playing contracts in Japan and will be raring to showcase their talent at Asia's marquee event.

Rajesh Uppar, Vikas Kumar, Aravind A, Siddhant Shinde, Akashdeep Hazra and Gurvinder Gill are the other players.

Budget airline Air Asia will sponsor the team's participation at the event, a release said.