Qatar's national basketball team gains valuable experience at International Friendly Tournament
Doha
Qatar's national basketball team delivered a commendable performance against Japan, falling 92-103 in a competitive match on Wednesday evening during the second round of the 2025 International Friendly Basketball Tournament, organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation. The tournament, hosted at the Lusail Multipurpose Arena from July 28 to August 1, features four Asian teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Iraq.
Japan started strongly, securing the first quarter 29-19. Qatar responded in the second quarter, matching Japan's intensity with a 24-24 tie. The third quarter saw Japan regain the lead, winning 29-24, but Qatar fought back in the fourth, outscoring Japan 25-21. Despite the late surge, Qatar could not overturn the deficit.
Qatar's Alen Hadzibegovic led the game with 24 points, while Japan's Yudai Nishida was his team's top scorer with 21 points.
The result leaves Qatar with three points in the tournament standings, while Japan earns their first two points, having missed the opening round. Qatar previously defeated Saudi Arabia 82-78 in the tournament's opening match.
The tournament concludes on Friday, August 1, with Saudi Arabia facing Japan at 5pm followed by Qatar's final match against Iraq at 7pm.
Under the guidance of Turkish coach Hakan Demir, Qatar is using the tournament as a critical phase in their preparations for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled for August 5-17, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with 16 teams competing. Qatar is drawn in Group A alongside Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon.
Group B includes Guam, Japan, Syria, and Iran; Group C comprises China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia; and Group D features Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Iraq, and the Philippines.
The Asia Cup follows a group-stage format, with the top team from each group advancing directly to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing second and third in each group will compete in crossover knockout matches to determine the remaining quarter-finalists.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
11 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar basketball team departs for FIBA Asia Cup 2025
Tribune News Network Doha The delegation of Qatar's senior national basketball team departed on Sunday morning for Jeddah to participate in the 31st edition of the FIBA Asia Cup. The tournament is set to run from August 5 to 17, 2025, featuring 16 Asian national teams. Leading the delegation is Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, General-Secretary of Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams. He is supported by Jasim Ibrahim Ashkanani as team manager and Nabil Jumaa as administrative assistant. The team is under the technical guidance of Turkish head coach Hakan Demir, assisted by Cengiz Karadag, Abdu Su, Attila Yabgir, and Mohammad Foral. The medical staff includes Dr. Adel Selim, Dr. Adel Hormia, and physiotherapist Nikasio Sagayno. The 12-player roster comprises: Brandon Goodwin, Alen Hadzibegovic, Seydou Ndiaye, Zinedine Bedri, Tyler Harris, Elhadji Magassa, Omar Saad, Mustafa Ndao, Mohamed Bashir, Babacar Dieng, Abdulrahman Saad, and Mahmoud Darwish. The tournament draw placed Qatar in Group A alongside Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon—a particularly challenging group given the rankings and competitive levels of the participating teams. Qatar's opening match in the continental competition will be against South Korea on August 6, followed by Lebanon on August 8, and concluding the group stage with a tough encounter against Australia on August 10. Group B consists of Japan, Iran, Syria, and Guam. Group C includes China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia. Group D features the Philippines, New Zealand, Iraq, and Chinese Taipei. The event follows a group-stage format, where the top team from each group advances directly to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the second- and third-placed teams will compete in crossover elimination matches to determine the remaining qualifiers.
Qatar Tribune
11 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
QF's Ability Friendly Program wraps up summer camp promoting inclusion and independence
Tribune News Network Doha The Ability Friendly Programme under Qatar Foundation's (QF) Pre-University Education (PUE) successfully concluded its summer camp designed to support people with disabilities. The programme is part of QF's broader efforts to promote inclusion by providing sport-specific activities for children and adults with special needs and disabilities, empowering them to discover their potential, develop essential skills, and build meaningful social connections. The camp offered a rich program featuring a variety of educational and recreational activities, including sensory sessions, arts and crafts, swimming, football, horse riding, as well as engaging field trips and meaningful experiences that foster personal growth and social engagement. Mohamed Elfarsisi, a football coach in the QF's Ability Friendly Program (AFP), said: 'This year's summer camp marked a significant shift, with a stronger focus on promoting independence among participants. For the first time, parents and guardians were not present during the camp, an important new step introduced this year. 'We focused on promoting true social inclusion. Many of the camp's activities took place in public spaces, allowing participants to fully engage with their surroundings. We aimed to deliver a clear message that people with disabilities are an integral part of society, sharing the same interests and experiences as everyone else. 'This year, registration was also opened to adults with disabilities, allowing them to participate as assistant coaches alongside camp coordinators, based on their individual abilities. To ensure participants received full support, specialized behavioural therapists were present throughout the camp.' Elfarsisi also noted that the camp prioritized effective inclusion of both children and adults by assigning a dedicated support person to each participant, whether a coach or behavioural specialist, ensuring everyone received the appropriate level of guidance throughout the various activities. Maha Al-Marri, the mother of seven-year-old Saleh Al-Marri, who has Down syndrome, observed a noticeable improvement in her son's skills and behaviour following his participation in the camp. 'This is the third time my son Saleh has participated in the AFP's summer camp,' said Al-Marri. 'I consider it a rare and valuable opportunity, especially given the limited number of programs and activities specifically designed for individuals with disabilities and the scarcity of qualified specialists to support them. 'At first, I had some concerns about not being allowed to accompany my child,' she added, 'but I decided to give it a try, especially since the program collaborates with centres specialized in behaviour modification. This gave us, as parents, a real opportunity to receive feedback that helps us better understand how to support and communicate with our children. 'What stood out to me this year was the presence of a clear plan and a variety of activities that reflect a deep understanding of the participants' needs. 'I encourage all parents, especially those with children with disabilities, to involve their children in specialized camps like this one. It goes beyond entertainment; it offers a safe, educational environment under the supervision of a professional team, with continuous communication with families to ensure every child truly benefits.' Salem Saeed Al-Aida, a 10-year-old participant in the camp with autism, said: 'I've been taking part in the Ability Friendly Program for five years now, and every year I learn something new.' 'This year, I really enjoyed the activities, especially swimming, which is my favourite. I also played football, did some drawing, and made sure to stay active and have fun during the summer break. 'I consider autism a superpower because each of us has our own unique way of expressing ourselves and communicating. The camp helped me connect with other participants, and I made new friends.' He concluded by saying: 'I'm really thankful to my mother because she always supports me and encourages me in everything I do.'
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar national basketball team roster for FIBA Asia Cup 2025 announced
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has unveiled the official roster for the Qatar National Basketball Team, set to compete in the 31st edition of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025. The tournament will feature 16 top Asian national teams. The final 12-player roster includes: Brandon Goodwin, Alen Hadzibegovic, Seydou Ndiaye, Zain Eddin Badri, Tyler Harris, Adji Magassa, Omar Saad, Mustafa Ndaw, Mohamed Bashir, Babacar Dieng, Abdulrahman Saad, and Mahmoud Darwish. Leading the Qatar delegation is Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, General-Secretary of QBF and Director of National Teams. He will be supported by Jassim Ibrahim Ashkanani, Team Manager, and Nabil Juma, Assistant Manager. The team's technical staff is headed by Turkish coach Hakan Demir, with assistants Cengiz Karadag, Abdo Sou, Attila Yapcilar, and Mohamed Fural. The medical team comprises Dr. Adel Salem, Dr. Adel Hormia, and physiotherapist Nikasio Sagayno. Following the tournament draw, Qatar has been placed in the highly competitive Group A alongside Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon. Qatar team will open their campaign against South Korea on August 6, followed by matches against Lebanon on August 8 and Australia on August 10. Other groups in the tournament are as follows: Group B includes Japan, Iran, Syria, and Guam; Group C comprises China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia; and Group D features the Philippines, New Zealand, Iraq, and Chinese Taipei. The tournament follows a group-stage format, with the top team from each group advancing directly to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing second and third in their groups will compete in crossover knockout matches to determine the remaining quarter-finalists.
