Bahrain Eyes Breakthrough at 3x3 Asia Cup

As the countdown begins for the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026, Bahrain’s men’s and women’s national teams now know the path to the finals in Singapore, hosting the tournament for the fifth straight year and also set to welcome the 2027 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

Scheduled for April 1–5 at the Singapore Sports Hub, the event will feature 24 men’s teams and 22 women’s teams competing for continental supremacy and a spot at next year’s World Cup.

Bahrain enters the tournament seeking redemption after their debut at the 2025 Asia Cup, which concluded last March. The men’s team secured narrow wins over Indonesia (14–11) and Guam (21–20) but also suffered a heavy 7–21 defeat to Hong Kong, missing out on the main draw. Meanwhile, the women’s squad fell 5–21 to South Korea and 17–12 to Malaysia, exiting early. While the results were disappointing, the experience offered valuable lessons heading into 2026.

In this year’s qualifiers, Bahrain’s men are drawn in Group D alongside Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and India. Only the group winner advances to the finals, where they would join New Zealand and Qatar. Australia, the most decorated nation in Asia Cup history with five titles, including last year’s crown, lead a competitive field that also includes former champions Mongolia and Qatar.

Bahrain’s women are in Group C with Chinese Taipei, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Seeded 22nd, they face a challenging path, with the group winner advancing to a finals pool that includes Japan and hosts Singapore. Australia arrive as defending champions, aiming for a fourth straight title.

Both squads are led by Serbian coach Bogdan Dragović, assisted by national coach Murtadha Mohammed. In November, on the eve of Bahrain hosting the FIBA 3x3 Manama Final, both teams claimed Under-21 titles. The coaching duo also guided the men to the GCC Championship title in Muscat, while the women finished in second place.

With national pride, World Cup qualification, and last year’s early exits in mind, Bahrain’s 3x3 teams are now focusing on Singapore. They’ll be determined to surpass their seedings and leave their mark on the continental stage.