Doha, February 24 (QNA) - The Qatar National Basketball squad will face India on Friday in the first game of the second qualifying window for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, hosted by Qatar.

The match will take place at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, followed by a contest against Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Qatar enter the second window girding for decisive challenges, currently second in Group D with 3 points, level with Lebanon and one point behind group leader Saudi Arabia, while India sits at the bottom with 2 points.

Ahead of the matches, the team completed an overseas training camp in Turkiye, providing an optimal preparation environment. Head Coach Hakan Demir spearheaded the coaching staff, executing intensive daily rehearsals focusing on tactical discernment, diversified offensive and defensive strategies, physical conditioning, and team cohesion, ensuring peak readiness before returning to Doha.

The Asian and Oceania Qualifiers feature 16 teams across four groups, with the top three from each group advancing to the second round, then redistributed into two new groups.

Three teams from each group qualify for the World Cup, along with the best fourth-placed team, according to the FIBA-approved competition calendar, spanning six windows until March 2027, vindicating progressive competitive intensity in both coaching and physical dimensions. (QNA)