Doha, July 04 (QNA) - The Qatar Basketball Federation announced today its full readiness to host the 2026 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.

In an official statement, the federation noted that the Asian Basketball Confederation's selection of Qatar to host the tournament underscores Doha’s prominent status as a distinguished sports destination for basketball tournaments and events.

The statement added that the championship will feature 16 Asian national teams competing in intense matches across two state-of-the-art venues, with eight games played daily. This will provide significant technical benefits and enhance Qatar’s organizational capabilities, especially as the country prepares to host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the first of its kind in the Middle East.

In this context, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb emphasized that hosting continental and global tournaments in Qatar reflects the nation’s full commitment to supporting team sports. He added that the U18 Asia Cup represents a crucial opportunity to develop young talents in the sport and serves as a catalyst for improvement through competition against strong teams.

He explained that the Qatar Basketball Federation is working closely with relevant authorities, the Asian Basketball Confederation, and FIBA to ensure the organization of exceptional tournaments that combine professionalism and ideal management while providing a competitive and healthy environment for all participating teams, including players, coaches, administrators, and fans.

Al Mughaiseeb affirmed that the federation looks forward to hosting numerous future tournaments aimed at promoting the 2027 Qatar Basketball World Cup, optimally preparing national teams, and developing Qatari personnel through continental and global competitions, in addition to contributing to the promotion of sports tourism in Qatar.

The President of the Qatar Basketball Federation stressed the immense value of the U18 Asia Cup, noting that hosting a continental championship will pave the way for perfecting the organization of the World Cup and open broad horizons for Qatari youth to advance in both the sporting and organizational aspects of events. It will also showcase Qatar’s ability to host global events with the highest standards of quality. (QNA)