Doha, Qatar: Qatar will tip off their Gulf Youth Basketball Championship (U-18) campaign in Kuwait when they take on UAE on July 29, the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has revealed.

QBF President Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb has announced the Group A match will tip off at 5:30 pm at the Etihad Hall of the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah Complex.

Qatar will next face the hosts two days later, on July 31 at 7:30 pm in their second and final Group A match.

QBF Secretary-General Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari (left) and QBF President Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb

The tournament also sees Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman in action in Group B. Saudi Arabia will compete against Oman on July 29 at 7:30 pm, while Bahrain will take on Oman the following day at 5:00 pm, followed by the Kuwait-UAE match at 7:30 PM.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals which will take place on the penultimate day of the tournament.

Secretary General of the Qatar and Gulf Basketball Federations Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari highlighted that the groups were formed based on the results of the previous edition of the tournament held in the UAE in 2022, while noting that the winner and runner-up will qualify for the Asian Youth Cup, which will be hosted in Jordan from September 2 to 9, 2024.

Al Kuwari also stated that Team Qatar has undergone rigorous preparations ahead of the Championship, highlighting intensive training sessions aimed at securing top results. He also expressed his confidence in the team’s potential to excel in Kuwait and qualify for the Asian Cup. The July 29-August 3 tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Asian Cup.

The final day will see the third-place play-off at 5:00pm, apart from the title clash which is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 pm.