Qatar hoopsters still hopeful of knockout stage qualification

Doha: Qatar’s U-18 basketball team hasn’t lost on the hope of making it to the knockout stages of the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup despite suffering a 66–118 defeat against China at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Hall in Ahmedabad. The game was part of Group C’s second-round fixtures in the tournament, which runs until August 23 with 16 teams divided into four groups.China asserted their dominance from the very start, winning the first quarter 32–11, then extending the lead with a 32–20 second quarter. The gap widened further in the third quarter (30–14), while the fourth was more balanced, ending 24–21 in China’s favour.Despite the margin, Qatar captain Abdullah Yassin Mousa emerged as the game’s top scorer with 22 points. China’s standout was Xuan Hao, who scored 18 points.In another Group C match, Iran defeated Sri Lanka 110–42, securing its second consecutive win. With these results, China and Iran lead the group standings with four points each, while Qatar and Sri Lanka share third and fourth place with two points apiece.Qatar now face a decisive final group-stage match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday (August 18) at 11am (Doha Time). The team is aiming for a win to strengthen their chances of finishing third and advancing to the qualification round.The match carries added importance due to the tournament format: group leaders advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams play qualification games on August 20. In this setup, Group C’s second-place team will face Group D’s third, while Group C’s third will meet Group D’s second.China and Iran will also clash on August 18 at 8am (Doha Time), a game that will decide the group leader.Qatar began their campaign with a 69–94 loss to Iran, while China opened with a commanding 103–55 win over Sri Lanka before defeating Qatar.The Qatari squad includes: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Ziad Al Bitar, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohamed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al Johari, Mohamed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohamed.The delegation is headed by Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams. The team is coached by Algerian Munir Ben Ghalla, assisted by Hashem Zidan, with Kenan overseeing physical preparation and Saif Al Din Al Hamandi supervising medical and rehabilitation.Beyond the Asian title, the championship serves as a qualifying pathway to the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup 2027, scheduled in Pardubice, Czech Republic, from June 26 to July 4, 2027. The four semi-finalists will earn tickets to the World Cup.Group C features Qatar, China, Iran, and Sri Lanka. Group A includes Australia, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Thailand; Group B has New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Syria; while Group D brings together Korea, Japan, India, and Kazakhstan.The group stage continues until August 18, followed by qualification games on August 20, quarter-finals on August 21, semi-finals on August 22, and the final on August 23.

Qatar Face China in Key FIBA U18 Asia Cup Clash

Ahmedabad : Qatar’s U18 national basketball team will face China on Sunday in their second Group C match at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Ahmedabad, India, as they look to bounce back from their opening defeat and strengthen their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.Qatar began their campaign with a 94–69 defeat to Iran, while China made a strong start with a 103–55 victory over Sri Lanka.Despite trailing Iran during the first half, Qatar responded with an improved performance after the break and won the third quarter 26–21, providing the coaching staff with positives to build on ahead of the China encounter.Abdullah Yassin Mousa led Qatar with 26 points and five rebounds against Iran, while Mohamed Saeed Badri recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Tamim Abouissa added 12 points.The national team, led by Algerian head coach Mounir Bengala and assistant coach Hashem Zaidan, will be aiming for greater consistency against a strong Chinese side, with defensive organization, ball security and offensive efficiency expected to be key factors.China and Iran currently lead Group C after winning their opening matches, while Qatar and Sri Lanka will be seeking their first victories. Qatar will conclude their group-stage campaign against Sri Lanka on August 18.The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups. Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the teams finishing second and third will contest playoff matches for the remaining places in the last eight.Qatar’s squad comprises Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abouissa, Ziad Al Bitar, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohamed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al Johari, Mohamed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohamed.The delegation is headed by Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams.Qatar secured their place at the continental championship after finishing runners-up in the Gulf U18 qualifiers in Doha, earning a third consecutive appearance at the Asian finals.The FIBA U18 Asia Cup also serves as a pathway to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2027 in the Czech Republic, with the four semifinalists qualifying for the global championship.

Al Janoub Arena Opens with Qatar-China Clash

DOHA: The story of Al Janoub Stadium is entering a new chapter. On 27 August, the iconic venue will officially open its doors to basketball as Al Janoub Arena hosts Qatar's clash with China in the fourth window of the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. More than a competitive fixture, the game will provide an early test of readiness and offer fans a glimpse of the World Cup experience, exactly one year before the global tournament begins.The FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 will stand apart as a landmark edition in the history of the competition. It will be the first World Cup hosted by an Arab country and the Middle East and North Africa region, and the first to be staged entirely within a single city, Doha. For fans, this unique format will create the opportunity to attend more than one game in a single day.The tournament will also play an important role in strengthening basketball culture and expanding the sport's popularity across the region.The Qatar national basketball team continue to build their competitive momentum as the country advances its preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. Qatar finished second in Group D of the first round of the Asian qualifiers with 10 points, behind Lebanon, to advance to the second round despite having already secured their place at the World Cup as hosts.The national team will begin the second round against China in Doha on 27 August 2026, followed by home-and-away encounters with Japan and South Korea in the upcoming windows. These games form an integral part of a comprehensive preparation program aimed at ensuring that Qatar reach the highest possible level of readiness for the global tournament. They will also offer a practical opportunity to test some of the facilities and arenas that will stage World Cup competition.As anticipation builds for the Qatar-China encounter, the Organizing Committee is inviting all basketball fans across the country to attend. Admission will be free for all, allowing fans to enjoy the game while celebrating the energy and excitement of one of the world's most popular sports.The encounter will also be a standout moment in the “One Year to Go” campaign, marking the start of the final 12-month countdown to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 and coinciding with the opening of Al Janoub Arena.The transformation of Al Janoub Stadium into a purpose-built basketball arena is a powerful example of how Qatar continues to preserve and renew its sporting legacy. It combines the venue's distinctive architectural identity with innovation and sporting progress, giving the landmark a new role while extending its life beyond football. Al Janoub Arena is now poised to become one of the memorable venues of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, carrying forward the legacy of Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.On this occasion, Dr. Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buenain, Director General of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Organizing Committee, said the Qatar-China game marks an important milestone on the road to the tournament, providing a valuable platform to assess Al Janoub Arena's organizational and operational readiness, gauge fan engagement with the interactive experiences and accompanying activities, and strengthen the national team's preparations through a major test against one of Asia's leading basketball nations.He added: “Al Janoub Arena is no longer simply a stage for competition; it is a living symbol of innovative legacy and sustainable venue development. The Qatar-China encounter will put its readiness firmly in the spotlight one year before the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. For the first time across the worlds of football and basketball, a landmark open-air World Cup stadium has undergone an innovative engineering transformation into a fully enclosed, sustainable indoor arena, ready to welcome the game's biggest stars on the world stage. This experience confirms that Qatar is not only hosting major championships but setting new standards for sustainable sports infrastructure as a strategic asset supporting the country's and the region's long-term sporting development.”The occasion also highlights the enduring nature of Qatar's sporting legacy. Major tournaments may come to an end, but their legacy continues to evolve. Al Janoub Stadium, which formed part of the story of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is now moving from football to basketball and opening a fresh chapter in its journey as it prepares to welcome a new generation of fans at the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. 

Qatar Drawn with Tunisia, France and Venezuela at FIVB Boys’ U17 World Championship

Doha:  Qatar have been drawn alongside Tunisia, France and Venezuela in Pool A of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship, which will be hosted in Doha from August 19 to 29.The tournament will bring together 20 teams from around the world, divided into five pools. Pool B features Italy, Cuba, India and Romania, while Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Poland make up Pool C.Pool D consists of Spain, Egypt, Bulgaria and Türkiye, while Pool E includes Iran, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan and Algeria.Each team will play three matches in the preliminary round, with the top 16 teams in the overall standings advancing to the Round of 16. The competition will then continue through the knockout stages leading to the semifinals, third-place playoff and final.Matches will be staged at Aspire Sports Hall and Al Arabi Sports Club Hall, as Doha prepares to welcome some of the world’s most promising young volleyball players for the global championship.

Qatar Beach Volleyball Team Claims Silver at West Asia Championship

BEIRUT- Qatar’s men’s beach volleyball team, represented by Mohammed Ehab and Mousa Al Khair, claimed the silver medal after finishing runners-up in the second and final round of the 2026 West Asia Beach Volleyball Championship in Batroun, Lebanon.The Qatari duo began their campaign with a convincing 2–0 quarterfinal victory over Kuwait, before overcoming Lebanon 2–0 in the semifinals to book their place in the gold-medal match. They narrowly missed out on the title, falling 2–1 to Lebanon’s Jad Abi Karam and Hadi Shbeib, who secured the gold medal.The silver-medal finish adds to Qatar’s growing record of success in beach volleyball at both the regional and continental levels.

Team Qatar U-18 Turn Focus to China after Iran Defeat

DOHA - Qatar’s U-18 national basketball team has put behind its 94–69 defeat to Iran on Friday morning, August 14, 2026, and shifted focus to its upcoming clash against China at 8:00 a.m. Doha time on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The match, part of Group C in the ongoing FIBA U-18 Asian Championship in Ahmedabad, India, carries significant weight in the race for knockout-stage qualification.The Maroons enter the China encounter seeking redemption after Iran dominated the opening two quarters. Qatar responded strongly in the third period, delivering its best performance of the game  a positive takeaway for the coaching staff ahead of the next challenge. Iran had established early control, leading 19–9 after the first quarter and extending the advantage to 30–17 in the second, closing the half with a 23-point margin. Qatar rallied in the third, outscoring Iran 26–21 with improved offensive execution and composure, before Iran sealed the fourth quarter 24–17 to secure victory.Individually, Qatar captain Abdullah Yassin Mousa shone as the game’s top scorer with 26 points, spearheading his team’s offense. For Iran, Mohammad Shamsi Anbouhi led with 19 points.Elsewhere in Group C, China opened its campaign emphatically with a 103–55 win over Sri Lanka, collecting two points to top the standings alongside Iran. Qatar sits third with one point, level with Sri Lanka in fourth.The China matchup is pivotal for Qatar, given the strength of the opponent and the impact of the result on group standings. The team must show greater balance from the outset while maintaining the fighting spirit displayed in the third quarter against Iran.Group C features China, Iran, Qatar, and Sri Lanka. Group A includes Australia, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Thailand; Group B comprises New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Syria; while Group D brings together South Korea, Japan, India, and Kazakhstan. Qatar will conclude its group-stage fixtures against Sri Lanka on August 18, a contest likely to be decisive for its final position before the knockout rounds.The tournament hosts 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Group-stage matches run from August 13 to 18 in a single round-robin format. Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams contest playoff qualifiers on August 20. Quarterfinals follow on August 21, semifinals on August 22, and the final on August 23. Classification games for fifth to eighth place will also be held. This format makes topping the group highly valuable, offering direct passage to the quarterfinals and avoiding an extra playoff match — a target Qatar must pursue in its remaining fixtures.Qatar’s squad features 12 players: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Ziad Al-Bitar, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al-Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed. The team is led by Algerian head coach Mounir Ben Ghalla, assisted by Hashem Zaidan, with Kenan overseeing fitness and Seif Al-Din Al-Hamandi supervising medical and rehabilitation duties.The delegation is headed by Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams. Qatar qualified for the Asian Championship after finishing second in the Gulf U-18 qualifiers held in Doha, securing its third consecutive continental finals appearance. Beyond the immediate competition, the U-18 Asian Championship serves as a gateway to the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup 2027 in Pardubice, Czech Republic (June 26 – July 4, 2027). The four semifinalists will earn tickets to the global stage, raising ambitions across all participating teams and making a top-four finish an additional goal for Qatar.