NAGPUR: Failing to get into the groove in the early part of the game, the spirited bunch of Indian hoopsters lost to the higher ranked Kazakhstan - their first defeat - in FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament Asia in Damascus, Syria, on Monday. Unlike the two back-to-back victories where India dominated the first quarter, they failed to find early baskets as world No. 65 Kazakhstan recorded a three-point (73-70) victory.
Despite a poor start, the 82nd ranked Indians fought their way back and regained the advantage with a 16-0 run in the third quarter. But they fell short in the thrilling contest, where the lead changed hands as many as 16 times.
