Defending champions Iran have been drawn alongside East Asia’s Chinese Taipei, Middle Asia’s Sri Lanka and SEABA team Malaysia in Group A for the Preliminary Round of the 21st FIBA Asia Championship to be held here from Sept 22-Oct 2.
The draw ceremony was held at the host city on Wednesday.
FIBA Asia Deputy Secretary General Hagop Khajirian and Yemen Basketball Federation president Al Khader Al Azani supervised the draw proceedings in the presence of Director General of Youth and Sports Ministry, Government of Yemen.
Hosts Yemen have opted to play in Group D for the preliminary round, which also comprises last edition’s semifinalists Japan, West Asia’s Iraq and India.
Syria, who bagged a surprise bronze medal at the previous edition of the Championship at Tehran two years ago, have been drawn in Group C that also comprises two former multiple-winners.
Eight-time champions China, who handed a bizarre forfeiture to Syria two years ago, six-time gold medalists SEABA’s Philippines and GCC team Saudi Arabia are the others in Group C.
Group B looks headed for some interesting contests with last edition’s silver medalists Kazakhstan drawn alongside three leading guns.
Three-time former gold medalists East Asia’s Korea, current WABA U18 champions Lebanon and GCC powerhouse Qatar will match wits with Kazakhstan in Group B.
The top three sides at the 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship will represent FIBA Asia at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship to be played in Latvia from 30 June-10 July 2011.
Groupings for the Preliminary Round
Group A: Taiwan, Iran, Malaysia, Sri Lanka
Group B: Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon, Qatar
Group C: China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Syria
Group D: India, Iraq, Japan, Yemen
The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round of the championship.
About 21st FIBA Asia Championship
The 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship is the qualifying event for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship to be played in Latvia from 30 June-10 July 2011.
The top three teams from the 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship will represent FIBA Asia at Latvia.
System of Competition
The 16 teams are pooled into four groups of four teams each for the Preliminary Round.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round, and will be drawn into two groups of six teams each.
In the Second Round, each team will carry forward the results against the other qualifying teams in their Preliminary Round group and will play against teams qualifying from the other Preliminary Round group. The top four teams from each Second Round will qualify for the Quarterfinals, from which stage it will be a knockout.
About FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia (http://fibaasia.net) is the governing body for basketball in Asia. With 44 National Federations affiliated FIBA Asia is one of the largest among the five FIBA zones – FIBA Europe, FIBA Americas, FIBA Africa and FIBA Oceania are the others. The members of the FIBA Asia family bring a diversity of cultures and languages making FIBA Asia the most varied, vivid and vibrant basketball community in the world. As the governing body, FIBA Asia is responsible for controlling and developing the sport of basketball in Asia.
(Photo: FIBA Asia)