Bahrain U16s finalise preparations ahead of Asia Cup tip-off

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s youth men’s basketball team have begun their final training camp in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as they gear up for the Fiba U16 Asia Cup 2025, which begins on Sunday.

Under the guidance of Tunisian head coach Rassem Marzooqi, the nationals held two practice sessions yesterday, one in the morning and another in the evening, and will maintain the same schedule today. A warm-up match against hosts Mongolia is set for tomorrow.

Bahrain head into the continental tournament on the back of a superb summer, having been crowned champions of both the Gulf and Arab youth competitions. They qualified for the Asia Cup after topping the Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) qualifiers held in Manama in July, and then added the Arab title last week in Cairo.

The Bahrainis are one of two teams representing the GBA in Mongolia, along with Saudi Arabia. They have been drawn in Group A alongside Australia, Lebanon and India. Group B features New Zealand, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia; Group C is composed of China, South Korea, Malaysia and hosts Mongolia; while Group D includes Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan and the Saudis.

Bahrain open their campaign against Australia on Sunday, followed by Lebanon on Monday, before concluding the group stage against India on Tuesday.

After the preliminary round, the four pool winners will advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the second and third-placed sides play in a play-off round on 4 September. The semi-finals are scheduled for 6 September, with the gold and bronze medal games taking place on 7 September. Classification matches will also be held on the final two days.

This year’s Asia Cup marks its eighth edition and also serves as a qualifier for the Fiba U17 Basketball World Cup 2026 in Türkiye. The top four finishers in Ulaanbaatar will secure their berths for Istanbul.

Bahrain are competing in the event for the sixth time and for the third successive edition. Their best finish came in 2013 when they placed eighth in Tehran, while their most recent appearance ended with 15th place in Doha in 2023.