New Delhi, August 18 (QNA) - Qatar have made the cut for the Qualification to Quarterfinals of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026, currently taking place in India.

The event is set to run through Aug. 23, with 16 teams divided into four groups.

Qatar thrashed Sri Lanka 90-43 in a game played Tuesday at Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, in the third and final round of Group C, with the four quarter scores standing at 20-17, 18-9, 29-10 and 23-7 in Qatar's favor.

Qatar captain Abdulla Yassin Mousa stood out, emerging as the game's leading star after topping the scoring chart with 37 points, while Sudam Liyanage led Sri Lanka with 10 points.

The triumph gave Qatar a morale boost at the close of the Group Phase after they finished the first stage in third place with four points, behind group winners China, who had a perfect six points after defeating Iran 96-58. Iran finished second on five points, while Sri Lanka ended their campaign in fourth and last place.

With that standing, China secured a direct spot in the Quarterfinals, while Qatar, who finished third in Group C, enter the Qualification to Quarterfinals against Japan, who finished second in Group D, and will make every effort to secure a ticket to the Quarterfinals. Iran, who finished second in Group C, will face India, who finished third in Group D, in another Qualification to Quarter-Finals game.

Bahrain, who finished second in Group B, will face Chinese Taipei, who finished third in Group A, while Syria, who finished third in Group B, will take on the Philippines, who finished second in Group A, in two other Qualification to Quarter-Finals games.

Australia, New Zealand, China and Korea had already advanced directly to the Quarterfinals after topping their respective groups.

The tournament regulations stipulate that each group winner advances directly to the Quarterfinals, while the teams finishing second and third enter the Qualification to Quarterfinals to complete the lineup of teams advancing to the Quarterfinals.

The Qualification to Quarter-Finals games is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, followed by the Quarterfinals the next day and the Semi-Finals on Aug. 22, with the tournament set to conclude with the Final on Aug. 23.

Qatar carry an indomitable spirit into the next stage, particularly as reaching the Semi-Finals would give the four advancing teams an opportunity to qualify for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2027, scheduled to take place in Pardubice, Czechia, from Jun. 26 to Jul. 4, 2027. (QNA)