U18 Stars Target Asia Cup After Arab Glory

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Bahrain will open their Gulf Under-18 Basketball Championship campaign against Saudi Arabia in Doha on Friday, July 17, as they seek one of three places at next month’s FIBA U18 Asia Cup in India.

The tournament will run from July 17 to 22 at Al Gharafa Sports Hall, with Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman taking part. The top three sides will qualify for the Asian finals, to be held in Ahmedabad from August 13 to 23.

Bahrain’s second match will be against Kuwait on Saturday, July 18, before they face Oman on Sunday, July 19. The team will have a rest day on Tuesday, July 21, and will close their group campaign against hosts Qatar on Wednesday, July 22.

The national side heads into the Gulf event in high spirits after retaining the Arab Under-18 Basketball Championship title in Sfax, Tunisia, where they beat Egypt 85-73 in the final.

That win has raised hopes for the young Bahraini squad seeking to carry its Arab form into the Gulf qualifiers and book a place among Asia’s leading youth teams.

The Bahrain Basketball Association will look for the team to build on its recent run and maintain the country’s growing standing in regional basketball, with qualification for the Asian finals now the main target.