Doha: The Qatar men’s national basketball team will play a crucial match against India at 3:30 PM at Veer Savarkar Hall in Ahmedabad, India, marking the start of the third window of the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup – Qatar 2027.
The team enters the contest with the ambition of returning to winning ways and strengthening its position in Group D, which also includes Lebanon and India.
This fixture carries particular importance given the close competition among the group’s teams and the intense battle for qualification to the second round. Qatar aims to bounce back after its narrow 86–80 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the rescheduled game of the second window.
In the same group, Lebanon defeated India 99–56, moving to the top of the standings with 7 points, level with Saudi Arabia. Qatar follows in third place with 6 points, while India sits fourth with 4 points. At the conclusion of the second window, Qatar, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia secured qualification to the next stage of the Asian qualifiers.
Head coach Hakan Demir of Turkey is focusing on addressing tactical details from the previous match, particularly defensive transitions and fast breaks, while improving finishing efficiency in the paint to ensure greater consistency throughout the game.
The Qatari delegation is led by Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams, assisted by Jassim Ibrahim Ashkanani (Team Manager) and Nabil Jumaa (Assistant Team Manager).
The technical staff includes head coach Hakan Demir, supported by assistants Cengiz Karadağ, Mirsad Memić, and Abdou Sow, with Mohamed Vural overseeing fitness preparation. The medical team features Dr. Adel Harmiya, Dr. Adel Selim, and Nikasio Sagaino.
Qatar’s 12-player roster consists of: Abdulrahman Saad, Mostafa Fouda, Omar Saad, Zeineddine Badr, Mohamed Hashem, Mostafa Nado, Babacar Dieng, Ousmane Dieng, Aladji Bobo Magassa, Alen Hadzibegović, Donte Grantham, and Mahmoud Darwish.
The team is scheduled to face Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on July 5, 2026, concluding the third window of the qualifiers.
