GUWAHATI, MARCH 19 (MExN): The Nagaland men’s and women’s basketball teams experienced a tough start at the 1st U-23 National Basketball Championship, which is currently being held in Guwahati, Assam.
In their opening league matches on Tuesday, both teams faced formidable opponents. The Nagaland men’s team struggled against a dominant Karnataka side, suffering a heavy defeat with a scoreline of 39-102. Similarly, the women’s team put up a brave fight against Maharashtra but ultimately fell short, with the match ending at 12-65.
However, the Nagaland men’s team bounced back in their second league match with an impressive performance. Displaying strong teamwork and skill, they achieved a decisive 88-60 victory over the higher-ranked Chhattisgarh team. Captain Neiisezo Theiinui was the standout player, contributing a remarkable 26 points to secure the win. He was well-supported by Benhilo, who added 15 points to the tally.
On the women’s side, Nagaland’s team suffered another defeat, this time to Meghalaya, with a final score of 14-53. Despite the loss, Barbara led the charge for Nagaland, finishing as the team’s top scorer with 8 points.
The men’s team will face Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow in a crucial match that will determine their qualification for the pre-quarter finals.
