New Delhi, August 15 (QNA) - The Qatar U18 national basketball team is set for a stern test against powerhouse China on Sunday in the second round of Group C fixtures at the ongoing FIBA U18 Asia Cup in India.

The team will be aiming to bounce back from their opening-round defeat to Iran and keep their hopes alive of advancing to the knockout stage.

The clash with China carries significant weight, given the strength of the opponent, who opened their campaign with a commanding 103-55 victory over Sri Lanka. By contrast, Qatar fell 69-94 to Iran, leaving the team under pressure to deliver a more balanced and disciplined performance from the outset, while denying China the chance to dictate the tempo.

Their most recent clash came on September 3, 2024, when China prevailed 99-43 in the group stage of the U18 Asia Cup. China also defeated Qatar 88-44 in the 2022 quarterfinals.

Elsewhere in Group C, Iran will meet Sri Lanka at 11:00 a.m. Doha time, with Iran seeking to extend its winning run and Sri Lanka hoping to recover from its heavy loss to China.

China and Iran currently top Group C with two points each, while Qatar and Sri Lanka share third and fourth place with one point apiece. Qatar will conclude its group campaign against Sri Lanka on August 18. in a potentially decisive fixture for its qualification hopes.

Group C features Qatar, China, Iran, and Sri Lanka. Group A includes Australia, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Thailand; Group B comprises New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Syria; while Group D brings together Korea, Japan, India, and Kazakhstan.

Sixteen teams are competing, divided into four groups of four, with round-robin play from August 13 to 18. Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams contest playoff matches on August 20 to determine the remaining quarterfinalists.

The quarterfinals are set for August 21, semifinals on August 22, and the final on August 23, alongside classification matches for fifth to eighth place. (QNA)