Bahrain Open Asia Cup Campaign Against Australia

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s youth men’s basketball national team tip off their Fiba U16 Asia Cup 2025 campaign this morning, facing  Australia in their Group A opener at 6:30am (Bahrain time) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The nationals, who arrive at the continental championship as reigning Gulf and Arab champions, are looking to carry their regional dominance onto the Asian stage. They face Lebanon tomorrow at 9am before wrapping up their group phase against India on Monday, also at 9am.

Back-to-Back Titles

The squad, under Tunisian head coach Rassem Marzooqi, come into the tournament with momentum. In July, they captured the Fiba U16 Asia Cup GBA Qualifiers 2025 title at home to punch their ticket to Ulaanbaatar. They then added another trophy by winning the 22nd U16 Arab Basketball Championship crown in Cairo.

Marzooqi has stressed the importance of discipline and consistency as his players prepare to face Asia’s elite. Bahrain are representing the Gulf Basketball Association alongside Saudi Arabia, who are drawn in Group D.

Group A Challenge

Bahrain’s Group A campaign promises to be demanding. Australia, who are the perennial contenders on the global stage, will provide the first test this morning. Lebanon, a rising force in youth basketball, await tomorrow, while India round off the group phase.

The group winners advance directly to the quarter-finals. Teams finishing second and third will contest a play-off on September 4 for a spot in the last eight.

Road to Istanbul

The Fiba U16 Asia Cup, now in its eighth edition, also serves as the qualifier for the 2026 Fiba U17 World Cup in Türkiye. The top four finishers in Ulaanbaatar will secure their place in Istanbul.

Bahrain are making their sixth appearance, and their third consecutive showing at the competition. Their best result came in 2013 in Tehran, when they finished eighth, while their last outing in 2023 in Doha saw them place 15th.

What’s Next

Should Bahrain progress past the group stage, the knockout rounds begin September 4. The semi-finals are set for September 6, followed by the medal games on September 7, when the Asian champions will be crowned.