India play Bahrain in 1st match of FIBA Asia meet

India will open their campaign against Bahrain in the 27th FIBA Asia Championship men's basketball tournament in Manila.
The tournament, to be played from August 1-11, will have 15 teams divided into four groups (Group A, B, C and D) in the preliminary round.
India have been placed in group D along side Thailand, Bahrain and Kazakhstan.
After Bahrain, India will play Thailand on Friday, followed their last group match against Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Three teams from each group will qualify for the second round, while the top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

India had made 22 appearances so far in the FIBA Asian Championship with their first appearance in 1965. India's best result in the history of the championship was fourth place finish twice -- in 1965 and 1975.
The Indian team had a successful training-cum-preparation tour of Turkey from July 20-29. During the trip the Indians won all their matches with a 30-plus point margin.