Doha, August 01 (QNA) – The draw for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup placed Qatar in Group C alongside China, Iran, and Sri Lanka, setting up a tough continental competition to be staged in Ahmedabad, India, from Aug. 13-23.

Qatar team will begin their campaign against Iran on Aug. 14 before facing China in the second round on Aug. 16 and concluding their group-stage matches against Sri Lanka on Aug. 18.

Qatar’s participation in the continental tournament comes after securing qualification from the U18 Gulf Basketball Championship qualifiers, which were hosted by Doha.

The team succeeded in finishing second and claiming the silver medal with seven points, securing a spot in the Asian finals behind Bahrain, which won the qualifiers with eight points after a perfect record.

The draw saw the participating teams divided into four groups. Group A features Australia alongside Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Thailand, while Group B includes New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Syria.

Group D includes Korea, Japan, India, and Kazakhstan, setting the stage for strong matchups between some of the continent’s top young talents.

The importance of the Cup extends beyond competing for the continental title, as the tournament serves as a qualifying pathway to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, scheduled to be held in 2027 in the Czech Republic.

The top four teams in the continental tournament will earn qualification spots for the World Cup.

Qatar hope to capitalize on this continental participation to continue harnessing the potential of a new generation capable of representing Qatari basketball in world competitions, especially after the positive results achieved in the Gulf qualifiers.

  The team rely on a group of young players who gained valuable experience during the Gulf qualifiers under the leadership of Turkish coach Cengiz Karadag, who aims to prepare the squad in the best possible way ahead of the continental competition.

The Qatar national team remain mindful of the challenges ahead and seek to demonstrate an indomitable spirit as they compete against some of the continent’s strongest teams.

The Qatar team roster includes: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abuissa, Mishaal Khalid Al Mughni, Muadh Omar Musa, Azzam Mohammed Yeken, Ziyad Tamer Al Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Musa, Owen Ekina, Youssef Waleed Abdulqader, and Shahi Mohammed. (QNA)