BASKETBALL – Bahrain have been slotted into a tough Group C for the men’s five-on-five basketball tournament at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, beginning next month.
The kingdom’s senior men’s national team are one of 12 squads in the highly anticipated competition. Organisers have confirmed the participating field for the event.
The Bahrainis will be facing off with defending champions the Philippines, fellow-continental powerhouses China, as well as with Kazakhstan in their preliminary round pool.
Group A features Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, while Group B includes Iran, Jordan, Chinese Taipei, and Qatar.
The men’s five-on-five tournament will be one of the sports that will be getting underway before the official start of this year’s Asiad on September 19.
The men’s games will be taking place from September 10 to 20.
There will also be a women’s five-on-five basketball tournament at this year’s Asian Games, to be held from September 17 to 26, featuring 11 teams.
Defending champions China headline Group A, which also features Indonesia and Thailand.
Group B is composed of Japan, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong; while Group C includes South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, and Malaysia.
Bahrain also took part in men’s five-on-five basketball at the previous edition of the Asian Games in 2022 in Hangzhou, China.
They made it to the play-off round for a quarter-final berth after winning one of their three assignments in the preliminaries.
They were eventually ranked 10th from 16 participating nations in the final standings.
The Philippines were joined on the podium by silver-medallists Jordan and bronze medal winners China.
Aside from five-on-five basketball, Bahrain are also taking part in the men’s 3x3 basketball tournament, where they are one of 16 countries.
The Bahrainis are in Pool C along with Qatar, Indonesia, and Chinese Taipei.
Pool A features Mongolia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka.
Pool B comprises China, Iran, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Pool C includes Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
There is also a women’s 3x3 tournament, which is also set to feature 16 national squads.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))