admin The draw for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup placed Qatar in Group C alongside China, Iran, and Sri Lanka, setting up a challenging campaign for the young Qatari team in the continental tournament scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, India, from August 13 to 23, 2026.
The draw presents Qatar with a major test in the opening round, facing three teams of diverse styles and traditions.
China and Iran stand out as two of Asia’s traditional basketball powerhouses, while Sri Lanka enters the competition aiming to achieve positive results.
Qatar will open its campaign against Iran on August 14, followed by a clash with China on August 16, before concluding the group stage against Sri Lanka on August 18.
All teams will rest on August 19 ahead of the knockout rounds. Qatar’s participation comes after securing qualification through the Gulf U18 Championship held in Doha, where the team finished second with seven points and claimed the silver medal, booking its ticket to the Asian finals behind Bahrain, who topped the standings with a perfect record of eight points.
The Qatari team impressed in the Gulf qualifiers, recording three consecutive victories: defeating Saudi Arabia 80-76, overcoming Kuwait 81-53, and sealing qualification with an 80-67 win over Oman.
In the final match to determine first place, Qatar fell to Bahrain 45-77, finishing runner‑up and earning silver in a performance that highlighted the progress of Qatari youth basketball.
Group stage matches will run from August 13 to 18, followed by the knockout rounds.
The quarterfinal qualification stage begins on August 20, with the quarterfinals on August 21, semifinals and classification matches on August 22, and the final and third‑place playoff on August 23.
Beyond the continental title, the championship serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in the Czech Republic, with the top four teams earning direct berths.
Qatar enters the Asian Championship with ambitions to build on its Gulf success and showcase its talent against the continent’s elite.
Qatar squad: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Mishal Khalid Al‑Mughni, Muath Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yakin, Ziyad Tamer Al‑Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed.
THE GROUPS:Group A: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, ThailandGroup B: New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, SyriaGroup C: Qatar, China, Iran, Sri LankaGroup D: Korea, Japan, India, Kazakhstan.
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