Doha: The Qatari national basketball team emerged victorious against the Indian team on Friday in a friendly match held at the Al Ittihad Hall of Al-Gharafa Club. The game served as a preparatory event for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Finals, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, featuring 16 participating teams.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari team showcased dominance from the outset, maintaining their lead throughout the game. The match saw the Qatari team finish the four periods with leading scores of 26-6, 38-23, and 59-36, ultimately securing an 84-58 victory.

The Qatari team is set to meet India once again in a second friendly match on Sunday at the same venue, marking the conclusion of the second phase of their internal training camp. Following this, the team will head to South Korea to compete in the third phase of the Asian qualifiers, scheduled from July 16 to 21.

The South Korea trip will see the Qatari team compete against several distinguished Asian teams as part of their final preparations for the 2025 Asian Cup in Jeddah. The draw for the tournament has placed Qatar in Group A, where they will face Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon.

In other groupings, Group B will consist of Guam, Japan, Syria, and Iran. Group C is comprised of China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia, while Group D includes Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Iraq, and the Philippines.