New Delhi: The Qatar U18 basketball team lost 66-118 to China in their second Group C match at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, currently being held in India through August 23.
The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups.
China dominated throughout the game, winning all four quarters 32-11, 32-20, 30-14 and 24-21.
Despite the wide margin, Qatar captain Abdullah Yassin Moussa was the game’s top scorer with 22 points, while Xuan Hao led China with 18 points.
In the other Group C match, Iran defeated Sri Lanka 110-42 to secure their second consecutive group-stage victory.
China and Iran now top Group C with four points each, while Qatar and Sri Lanka occupy third and fourth place, respectively, with two points apiece.
Despite suffering their second defeat and sitting third in the group, Qatar remain in contention for a place in the knockout stage. The team must beat Sri Lanka in their final group match on Tuesday to keep their hopes of advancing alive and secure at least second place in the group.
The Qatar-Sri Lanka match carries significant importance under the tournament format. The group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the teams finishing second and third compete in qualification games for the quarterfinals on August 20. The second-placed team in Group C will face the third-placed team in Group D, while the third-placed team in Group C will meet the second-placed team in Group D.
Tuesday’s final Group C match between China and Iran will also determine the group winner, who will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the runner-up will enter the qualification round.
The 16 participating teams are divided into four groups of four, with the preliminary round being played in a single round-robin format from August 13 to 18. The group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second - and third - placed teams compete in the qualification round on August 20.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for August 21, followed by the semifinals on August 22 and the final on August 23.
Beyond the Asian title, the tournament also serves as a qualification pathway to the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, scheduled to be held in Pardubice, Czech Republic, from June 26 to July 4, 2027. The four teams reaching the semifinals will earn qualification spots for the World Cup.
