Qatar Welcomes GCC 3X3 Basketball Championship After a 7-Year Hiatus

The GCC 3X3 Basketball Championship has made a triumphant return to the spotlight, with Qatar playing host after a seven-year hiatus….

Six teams will compete in the GCC 3X3 Basketball Championship tournament, with two teams each from Kuwait, Oman, and the host nation, Qatar, at Expo 2023 Doha.

As per the agreements between the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) and the Organising Committee of Expo 2023 Doha, the two-day tournament is scheduled to continue until tomorrow.

Rain forced the tournament’s organizers to relocate it from Al Bidda Park to Al Gharafa Sports Hall.

Deputy Director of the Qatar National Basketball Teams Yassin Ismail said at a press conference yesterday that Qatar is delighted to host the competition, which is being held for the first time since 2015.

“I think all of the participating teams will give it their all, and it’s good to have the tournament back.” You’ll notice that the other Gulf nations are absent this time around. This is because they are currently in the middle of their seasons, making it difficult for them to join us. Nevertheless, we anticipate a thrilling experience with the participating teams,” he stated.

Teams A and B, which included Omar Saad, Hashim Zidane, Ahmed Saeed, and Nadeem, the recently concluded silver medallists from the Asian Games, and Abdullah Yassin, Bobo Magasa, Faisal Abu Issa, and Muhammad Ndo, comprise the Qatari team, according to Yassin.

He said that the Qatari team will be excited about competing in the tournament and will be further encouraged by their qualification for the 2024 FIBA U-19 World Cup, which was revealed this week following their fifth-place finish in the world rankings.

“After winning silver at the Asian Games in China and placing fifth globally for the under-18 team, we have raised the bar for ambitions to the highest level. The plan that has been developed now is to take the team back to the international arena to achieve more success and best prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where we can compete for a medal, especially since we have excellent players who can provide the necessary results,” Yassin continued.

Dr. Khaled Al Qahtani, the Chairman of the Qatar Basketball Federation’s (QBF) Media Committee, was present at the press conference, marking the significance of this event in the world of sports. The return of the GCC 3X3 Basketball Championship signifies not only the revival of regional competition but also the determination of Qatar to make its mark in the world of basketball.

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