BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN’S senior men’s basketball national team have begun their preparations for the fourth GCC Games, taking place in Doha, Qatar next month.
The nationals held their first practice session under the supervision of Greek head coach Georgios Vovoras, who had called up 15 players for their initial training programme leading up to the multi-sport event.
The nationals have gathered for the first time since their participation in the 26th Arab Men’s Basketball Championship, hosted by the kingdom in July and August of last year.
Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) president Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa attended their practice, along with BBA vice-president Nader Al Awadhi.
They discussed with the national team members the BBA’s plans ahead of the highly anticipated regional competition.
The current roster features a number of the kingdom’s experienced internationals, including Ahmed Salman, Ahmed Alderazi, Mohammed Buallay, Ali Jaber, Ahmed Bindayneh, Mahmood Abbas Isa, Mohammed Juma’a, and Ali Hussain; along with up-and-coming youngsters Emran Ashkanani, Nader Ali, Hassan Ghareeb, Mohammed Ghazi, Mohammed Sami, Nader Shaker, and Hassan Fahad.
National team stars such as Mustafa Hussain, Muzamil Ameer, Wayne Chism, Maitham Jameel, Hesham Sarhan, and Mohammed Ameer are not on the current list. It is also unknown if any of them will be joining the team at a later stage.
Basketball is one of 19 sports that will be a part of this year’s GCC Games, scheduled to take place from May 11 to 22 in the Qatari capital. There is also 3x3 basketball, athletics, volleyball, handball, table tennis, squash, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards, snooker, shooting, archery, equestrian, and bowling.
It has still to be announced the total number of sports the kingdom’s delegation will be competing in Doha, although – to date – volleyball and handball have been confirmed.
The draw for the men’s basketball tournament has yet to be conducted by the GCC Games’ organising committee, but for volleyball and handball, Bahrain’s schedules are set.
The kingdom’s spikers will play their opening assignment against Oman on May 16, while the handball squad will be in action the day before on May 15 against Kuwait in their first fixture.
Both the men’s volleyball and handball events are to be played in league format.
For Bahrain’s senior men’s basketball squad, the fourth GCC Games will be their maiden competition in a busy 2026.
They will also be playing in the first round of pre-qualifiers for the Fiba Asia Cup 2029, to be held in Dubai, the UAE, from August 24 to September 1.
The nationals will then go up against the continent’s best in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4; and then, if qualified, will compete in the second round of Fiba Asia Cup 2029 pre-qualifiers, scheduled from November 23 to December 1 at a yet-to-be-determined host venue.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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