China UVS India Preview: Zhang Boyuan in Hot Form for Semifinal Push, India Struggles to Create Upset

On September 7, the FIBA U18 Asian Cup elimination rounds continue with a match between China and India. The winner of this game will secure a spot in the semifinals, which is crucial as it also qualifies the team for next year’s U19 Basketball World Cup, highlighting its significance.

Earlier reports indicated that the minimum goal for China’s U18 national team at the Asian Cup was to finish in the top four to qualify for the U19 Basketball World Cup. For Qu Shaobin, this match is decisive, and he must go all out to secure victory.

The content of China’s national team’s performance in the group stage has satisfied most fans and media. In their first two games against Kazakhstan and Qatar, they achieved significant victories, including a 56-point win over Qatar.

In the series against Japan, despite trailing by double digits after three quarters, they mounted a comeback led by Zhang Boyuan in the fourth quarter. Duan Ruiqi hit a critical three-pointer to help China narrowly defeat Japan and secure the top spot in the group, thus avoiding the playoff matches.

China’s national team has had more than two days to rest and adjust. Zhang Boyuan has been in hot form, showcasing his ability to take over games. Apart from some rotation issues in the guard position, they are among the best in Asia across all positions. It remains to be seen if Qu Shaobin can lead the team to victory, which would be highly anticipated.

India’s path to the knockout stages has been uncertain. They were overwhelmed in their group matches against Iran and South Korea, particularly losing by 72 points to South Korea. However, in a crucial qualifying match, India defeated Kuwait 62-51. In the playoff match, Lebanon struggled with poor shooting and numerous turnovers, failing to meet expectations. Conversely, four Indian players scored in double figures, and the team’s aggressive rebounding proved effective, ultimately defeating Lebanon 64-62 and securing an opportunity to turn things around.

However, considering both teams’ roster configurations and overall strength, China’s national team still holds a dominant advantage. In their last four meetings, China won all matches, including a 40-point victory in their most recent encounter, where China triumphed 105-65 over India. If China performs up to their usual standards, Zhang Boyuan could easily lead them to a semifinal spot.

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