International Geethu Anna Jose topscored with 11 points as India defeated host China 17-14 and won the women’s 3on3 basketball gold in the third Asian Beach Games at Haiyang on Tuesday.
It was India’s first gold at Haiyang.
India — international Anitha Paul Durai, Kiranjit Kaur and the young Shireen Vijay Limaye were the others in the four-member side — fielded some of its best players at these Games while China was a junior team with an average age of 16. Zhang Xu, the host’s oldest player at 17, was China’s top scorer with nine points.
Geethu also emerged as the Games’ top scorer with 45 points from the five 10-minute matches. India had earlier beaten Mongolia 21-16 in the semifinals and Nepal 22-6, Philippines 14-9 and Thailand 17-12 in the preliminary league.
Men finish fifth
India finished fifth in men’s 3on3 basketball after defeating Thailand 16-8 while Afghanistan defeated Turkmenistan 16-9 and won the gold.
In beach volleyball, India’s P. Mohan and Pradeep John failed to qualify for the pre-quarterfinal after finishing second in the three-team Group F. India beat Cambodia 21-14, 21-17 but lost to Kazakhstan 15-21, 17-21.
In kabaddi, the Indian women defeated Thailand 48-40 in a preliminary league game.
