BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN is set to host the three-team qualifying tournament for West Asia for two berths in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025.
This was announced yesterday by the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA), who said that the International Basketball federation (Fiba), has officially approved the BBA’s request to host the qualifiers, which is set to feature Iraq, India, and hosts Bahrain.
The competition will be held between March 21 and 23. It will be the last chance for the kingdom’s senior men’s basketball national team to earn their place in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled for this August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The games in this qualification event will be held at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
The BBA said in a statement yesterday that after submitting a request to host the tournament, the initiative was welcomed by Fiba, who expressed their appreciation for Bahrain’s efforts to enhance basketball at the continental level.
In an official letter from Fiba executive director for Asia and Fiba Asia secretariat CEO Hagop Khajirian, he expressed his delight in accepting Bahrain as the host of this event, and stressed that all details related to the tournament will be coordinated with the BBA to ensure its successful organisation.
The kingdom’s hosting reflects the development of the sports infrastructure on the island and Bahrain’s ability to stage major international competitions.
A similar final qualifying tournament for East Asia will also be held with Chinese Taipei, Guam, and Thailand in the fray. Both events will feature a single round-robin, with the top two teams from each punching their tickets to this year’s Fiba Asia Cup.
A total of 16 teams from Asia and Oceania are set to compete in Jeddah.
Australia, Lebanon and Jordan, who were the top three teams of the last Fiba Asia Cup in 2022, finished the qualifiers unbeaten after sweeping all six of their games. They are joined by China, Iran, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Qatar, Syria, and the host Saudis as the 12 nations that have already secured their places.
The Fiba Asia Cup is the continent’s premier basketball tournament, featuring senior men’s national teams from Fiba Asia as well as from Fiba Oceania. Bahrain are looking to qualify for the championship for the 10th time.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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