Qatar Basketball Federation unveils 2025 calendar
Tribune News Network
Doha
The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has revealed its event calendar for 2025, which features a range of camps and both official and friendly participations for national teams. The initiative is part of a broader strategy designed to improve the technical preparedness of players and to broaden their international exposure in anticipation of forthcoming continental and global competitions.
The Qatar men's national team 'A' will commence its training for the FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025. Preparations will include an external training camp in Turkey, set to occur from June 18 to July 3, 2025. This camp will focus on intensive training overseen by the technical staff, along with friendly matches aimed at enhancing both physical and tactical fitness.
The tournament draw has placed the Qatari national team in Group A, alongside Australia, Lebanon, and South Korea, a grouping that observers have characterized as formidable. This presents additional challenges for the Qatari team as they strive to advance to the knockout stage. The winners of the group will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the teams finishing in second and third place will compete in playoffs to secure the remaining positions.
The team will further its preparations in Doha from July 8 to 14, 2025, during which they will engage in friendly matches against Asian teams, before traveling to South Korea for a training camp from July 16 to 21, 2025. This camp will feature a series of friendly matches from July 18 to 20, offering valuable experience in competing against advanced Asian teams. Additionally, QBF has announced the hosting of an international friendly tournament at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall from July 25 to August 1, 2025, which will include the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Japan.
This tournament will provide the technical staff with an additional chance to evaluate their final preparedness prior to competing in the Asian Cup.
Qatar's men's national team 'B' is also gearing up to take part in the esteemed William Jones Cup, organized by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) from July 12 to 20, 2025. The team will commence its participation with an internal training camp in Doha until July 10, which will encompass physical and technical assessments to finalize the roster.
The William Jones Cup is recognized as one of the oldest unofficial international basketball tournaments, with its inaugural edition launched in 1977. Named in honor of the late FIBA founder, Renato William Jones, the tournament includes national teams and university clubs from across the globe, serving as an excellent platform for interaction and performance enhancement. The B team will also compete in the Arab Youth Championship, scheduled to take place in Nabeul, Tunisia, from July 23 to August 3, 2025, aimed at elevating the level of competition and acquiring further continental experience.
At the youth level, the Qatari U-16 team is preparing to participate in the Gulf Cooperation Council U-16 Championship, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from July 7 to 13, 2025, which will serve as a qualifier for the AFC U-16 Asian Cup Finals, set to occur in Mongolia next September.
On the occasion, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary-General of Qatar Basketball Federation, and Director of National Teams, stated: 'We are heading into an exceptional year of work and preparation, which requires great cooperation from everyone: administrators, players, and the technical staff, to achieve our desired goals. We have developed a comprehensive plan for the national teams of all categories, ensuring the highest levels of readiness through external training camps and participation in specialized tournaments. The men's team's participation in the Asian Cup in Jeddah represents a crucial milestone, and we are confident in our players' abilities to perform to an honorable standard.'
Al Kuwari added: 'Our participation in the historic William Jones Tournament and friendly tournaments also confirms our commitment to creating an optimal environment for interaction and development. We also pay special attention to the age groups, and we view the Gulf Junior Championship as an important gateway to emerging on the Asian stage. We are working to create a new generation of players who will represent the future of the game in Qatar.'
Al Kuwari concluded his remarks by emphasizing the institutional partnerships that support the success of this plan, praising the cooperation of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the clubs, and all supporters of national basketball.
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