India's 12-member squad heads to Sri Lanka for 3rd FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Women

India's Senior Women's squad took one of the biggest steps in history last month as they won their first ever game in Level 1 of FIBA's top Asian basketball competition and finished at a best-ever 5th place. But to continue this positive momentum, India will now need to ensure that the future stars are ready and prepared to take on the challenge. Now, their opportunity is here: the national under-16 women's squad has headed to Colombo, Sri Lanka, to take part in the 3rd FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Women. The tournament is slated to be held from November 23-30, 2013.

After finishing 5th at the previous edition of the championship in Jinan (China) in 2011, India's girls will return to Level 1 of the competition, where they will face off against only the other top teams: reigning champions Japan, China, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Malaysia. Head Coach TD Biju will be leading India's 12-member roster.

The team recently concluded their last training camp at the CBA Basketball School in Dongguan, China, in preparation for the U16 Women's ABC.

India's U16 Women's Team

• Vimmy Varkey
  
• Shinu George
  
• Bhandavya HM
  
• Vandana Arya
  
• Gagandeep Kaur
  
• Sakshi Pandey
  
• Riya Verma
  
• Mughda Amraotkar
  
• Srividhya Venkatraman
  
• Aneeta Varghese
  
• Mayukha KT
  
• Lopamudra TK
  
• Head Coach: TD Biju
  
• Coach: Abhay Chavan
  

Participating Teams

• Level 1: China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei.
  
• Level 2: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
  

India's Preliminary Round Schedule - All times IST

• November 23 - 1300 - Japan vs. India.
  
• November 24 - 1500 - China vs. India.
  
• November 25 - 1700 - India vs. Malaysia.
  
• November 26 - 1700 - Chinese Taipei vs. India.
  
• November 27 - 1500 - India vs. Korea.
  

As it is in any such tournament where India is grouped against Asian Women's Big Four (Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Korea), India's best hope for a win is going be against their fifth opponent, which in this case, is Malaysia. India is ranked fifth in Asia now in the U16 Women's category behind the big four, and they will have to fight hard to defend their spot. A win against Malaysia is a must. But can India dream bigger and try to get an upset over one of the big four sides? If so, they could be able to secure an unprecedented spot in the tournament's semi-finals.