Doha: The Qatar men's national basketball team is set to compete against India at Veer Savarkar Hall in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday. This match marks the beginning of the third window of the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup - Qatar 2027.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari team is aiming to regain its winning momentum and solidify its standing in Group D, which also includes Lebanon and India. The significance of this fixture is heightened by the closely contested nature of the group, as teams vie for advancement to the second round of the qualifiers. Qatar is determined to recover after a narrow 86-80 loss to Saudi Arabia in the rescheduled second window game.
In Group D, Lebanon secured a commanding 99-56 victory over India, propelling them to the top of the standings with 7 points, equal with Saudi Arabia. Qatar is positioned in third with 6 points, while India occupies the fourth spot with 4 points. Following the conclusion of the second window, Qatar, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia have all qualified for the subsequent stage of the Asian qualifiers.
Head coach Hakan Demir from Turkiye is concentrating on refining tactical aspects from the previous match, focusing on defensive transitions and fast breaks, alongside enhancing finishing efficiency in the paint to achieve consistent gameplay.
The Qatari delegation is led by Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams. Qatar's 12-player roster includes Abdulrahman Saad, Mostafa Fouda, Omar Saad, Zeineddine Badr, Mohamed Hashem, Mostafa Nado, Babacar Dieng, Ousmane Dieng, Aladji Bobo Magassa, Alen Hadzibegovic, Donte Grantham, and Mahmoud Darwish.