Strong Start for Iran at FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Contest

Iran’s U16 women’s national team had an excellent start at the Fifth FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Championship as it routed Nepal 89-32 in its first match in Division B on Day 2 of the games on Oct. 23 in India.

Rojin Talakoub shone brightly for Iran with 17 points, 4 assists and 3 steals, while Ghazal Maleki added 10 points and 18 rebounds.

According to the FIBA website, by far the biggest newsmaker of the day for Division B was Iran’s debut. The West Asia squad’s huge victory over Nepal was impressive enough, but the fact that the young Iranian basketball players were even playing was a historic event.

This is Iran’s first women’s national team of any age group to see action in more than 40 year, and they are also the first to play with headgear after FIBA’s landmark decision on adopting that rule in May.

Iran has been drawn in Group A of the competition’s Division B with Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. Headed by Elaheh Darestani, Iran will face host India in the next match and close group play against Sri Lanka.

Group B consists of Malaysia, Kazakhstan and the Maldives. China, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand are in Division A.

The fifth edition of the games is underway in the Indian city of Bengaluru, Oct. 22-28.