Ahmedabad: The Qatar U-18 national basketball team is gearing up for a pivotal matchup against Japan on Thursday, as they aim to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Asian U-18 Championship. The tournament, which is currently taking place in Ahmedabad, India, presents a significant opportunity for the young Qatari squad to continue their journey on the continental stage.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari team finished the group stage in third place in Group C, accumulating 4 points from one win and two losses. Their campaign began with a challenging 69-94 defeat to Iran, followed by a 66-118 loss to China. However, the team showcased resilience with a decisive 90-43 victory over Sri Lanka, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

A victory against Japan would propel Qatar into the quarterfinals, where they would face New Zealand on Friday. Japan, on the other hand, concluded the group stage as the second-placed team in Group D with 5 points, having secured wins against India (91-56) and Kazakhstan (81-45), and suffering a narrow 64-67 defeat to the Republic of Korea.

The stakes are high in the championship, as the top four semifinalists will earn qualification to the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup 2027, set to be held in the Czech Republic.