Doha, November 15 (QNA) - The 3rd edition of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Qatar League concluded Sunday. Hosted at Qatar Foundation's (QF) Multaqa (Education City Student Center), the event was organized by Qatar Foundation in collaboration with the NBA and supported by the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF).

QBF President Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughisib participated in the awards ceremony honoring the top teams.

During the ceremony, Al Mughisib congratulated the players on their performances throughout the season, praising their teams and coaching staff's efforts, and highlighting the tournament's steady growth and increasing participation since its inaugural edition.

The QBF President emphasized the importance of continuing the partnership with Qatar Foundation and the NBA.

He noted that the program has become one of Qatar's key platforms for youth basketball development by providing opportunities for learning and competing while contributing to talent identification and preparing talents for advanced levels in basketball.

Al Mughisib also expressed his appreciation to Qatar Foundation and the NBA for their ongoing partnership and commitment to supporting the future of basketball in Qatar.

He stressed the importance of maintaining collaborations as to expand participation opportunities and further develop the sport's ecosystem across all youth age groups.

The conclusion of the 3rd season reflected broader efforts to promote community sports and foster a culture of athletic participation among young people.

The significance of such initiatives extends beyond match results and championships, helping build a larger basketball community, enhance the capabilities of players and coaches, and create an environment in which promising talents can continue their sporting journey and reach their full potential.

The 3rd edition brought together more than 1,200 boys and girls competing across 80 teams in three age categories.

Launched in 2024, the league continue to serve as a key platform for expanding the reach of basketball among young generations in Qatar, by providing a structured sporting environment that combines training, competition, and talent development.

This season witnessed an expansion in age-group participation through the introduction of the Under-16 category, alongside the existing Under-12 and Under-14 divisions. This enabled a wider range of young athletes to compete and gain experience through age-appropriate levels of competition aligned with their developmental and technical abilities.

Participating teams were assigned the names of NBA teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

This unique format added excitement to the competition and strengthened participants' connection with globally recognized basketball organizations.

The program's objectives extend beyond competition, encompassing a series of practical training sessions and age-specific clinics designed to develop fundamental basketball skills.

Participants were introduced to modern training methods while also reinforcing values such as teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, and self-confidence. (QNA)