Heartbreak for Bahrain as China Takes 3x3 Basketball Gold

Bahrain’s boys’ 3x3 basketball team fought all the way to the final buzzer yesterday at the third Asian Youth Games, ultimately settling for a 19-17 silver medal loss to China in a heart-stopping gold medal match at the BBA Arena. Every possession mattered, every basket swung momentum, and the home team showed the tenacity that had carried them undefeated through the tournament. China’s last-second three-pointer ultimately sealed the game.

The Bahrainis, unbeaten in the tournament up to the final, had entered the match brimming with confidence. They had beaten China in their last preliminary game on Sunday, and the encounter carried extra weight: China had eliminated Bahrain from the U16 Asia Cup in September, giving the final an added layer of rivalry and a chance for revenge.

The final itself was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Bahrain jumped out early through Hasan Abdulkadir and Somto Patrick Onoduenyi, who dominated inside the paint, while Yousif Yaqoob Meshael and Sergej Scekic provided scoring from the perimeter. Despite their intensity, a series of fouls allowed China to capitalize at the free-throw line, keeping the match incredibly tight.

With seconds remaining, Bahrain clawed back to tie the score following a crucial timeout, igniting the home fans and sending the game into its final dramatic moments. But China responded immediately with a clutch three-pointer, reclaiming the lead and ultimately securing the gold. The close defeat left the Bahrainis visibly dejected as they made their way to the podium for their runners-up medals.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Tribune, Bahrain’s talisman Hasan Abdulkadir reflected on the encounter: “The game was good, we were playing as a team. But they shot better threes. We tried to play together to get back into it, and we did, but the last shot went their way. We beat them earlier in the tournament, which gave us confidence, but that’s basketball and anything can happen.”

China’s Tong Yu Zheng, speaking through a translator, praised Bahrain’s effort while reflecting on the tournament. “Bahrain is a very strong team. They showed great personal ability in the early game, but today we maintained our momentum. I like Bahrain, good country, good people, good experience,” he told TDT.

Bahrain Olympic Committee President HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa congratulated the team, noting the historic nature of the medal: “Congratulations on the silver medal. This is the first Asian Basketball silver for Bahrain, and our players gave their all. China is a very strong team, and our boys performed admirably. This result should be motivation for them in future tournaments.”

The silver medal caps a remarkable run for Bahrain, who had previously dismantled Saudi Arabia 20-11 in the quarterfinals and Qatar 21-10 in the semifinals. Despite the heartbreak in the final, their performance shows they remain a formidable force in Asian youth basketball.

The girls’ 3x3 basketball finals also concluded yesterday, with Chinese Taipei taking bronze over Thailand 20-11, while Iran edged China 15-14 to claim gold.