2019 FIBA Asia 3x3: Australia win double golds; India's teams finish outside top-12

The 4th edition of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup featured a record 40 teams (18 in the women's and 22 in the men's category) playing fast-paced, competitive basketball in the heart of Changsha, China. And when the dust settled it was the dominating newcomers from the Oceania region - Australia - that celebrated the spoils. With dominant displays throughout the knockout stage on Sunday, Australia's Men and Women both emerged as 2019 FIBA Asia 3x3 champions.

Held from May 22-26, the quickfire tournament featured most of the top Asian countries. Australia's Men, who also won the tournament's previous iteration in 2017, took the gold on Sunday with a 21-9 victory over Mongolia in a rematch of the last final. Tim Coenraad scored 8 points in the final including the game-winner for the Australians.

Australia's Women beat Kazakhstan 20-9 to win gold in their division on Sunday.

Hosts China's Men finished third after defeating Kazakhstan in the bronze medal game, 14-11. The women's bronze went to Japan, who won 21-14.

India also sent four-member squads to the 3x3 Asia Cup earlier this week, for both the men's and the women's divisions. Both teams were placed in the Qualifying Draw, meaning that they had to finish in the top of their group after the first two days of qualifying games to have a chance for qualification in the main Pool Stage.

Captained by Raspreet Sidhu, India's Women's team started the tournament in the Qualifying Draw B with Malaysia, Maldives, and Thailand. On the opening day, India defeated Malaysia in a nailbiter, 16-15. On Day 2, they scored a 18-12 victory over Maldives. But they failed to top their group after losing to Thailand in their final game, 21-15.

India Women finished at 14th place (out of 18).

India's Men's squad had a similar run in their two-day appearance at Changsha. Led by returning star guard Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, India were in Men's Qualifying Draw B with South Korea, Vanuatu, and and Malaysia. Like the women, India's Men's team also started their first day with a win over Malaysia, 21-13. On Day 2, they cruised past Vanuatu 21-10. But their journey ended with a heartbreaking close loss to South Korea 20-19.

India Men finished at 13th place (out of 22).

Team of the Tournament

Men

• Tom Wright (Australia) - MVP
• Delgernyam Davaasambuu (Mongolia)
• Yi Zheng (China)

Women

• Rebecca Cole (Australia) - MVP
• Nadezhda Kondrakova (Kazakhstan)
• Minami Iju (Japan)

Final Standings

Men

• 1. Australia
• 2. Mongolia
• 3. China
• 4. Kazakhstan
• 5. Jordan

Women

• 1. Australia
• 2. Kazakhstan
• 3. Japan
• 4. Mongolia
• 5. Turkmenistan