UAE drawn into Group A of the Dubai International
The draw for the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship was held at federation headquarters, along with a review of final preparations.
Major General Ismail Al Qarqawi, chairman of the Dubai International organising committee and president of the UAE and Arab basketball federations, chaired the draw for the tournament's 32nd edition, held online at federation headquarters along with a review of final arrangements. The competition opens at Al Nasr's hall on the 27th of this month.
The national team drew Group A, where they meet Al Wahda of Syria, Dynamo of Lebanon, Strong Group of the Philippines and Al Nasr of Libya. Group B contains Al Riyadi and Beirut of Lebanon, Sale of Morocco, Sfaxien of Tunisia and Al Naft of Iraq.
Alongside Al Qarqawi, the draw was attended by secretary general and organising committee chairman Salem Al Mutawa, executive office director Mohammed Abdullah Al Haj, federation director Mohammed Al Hammadi, national teams technical director Dr Mounir Ben Habib, and the tournament organisers Issa Darwish, general manager of Prisma PR, and Naji Al Jabri, general manager of New Generation Events, with the federation's technical secretary Qassem Daadoush.
Al Qarqawi said the tournament's return after a two-year absence caused by the pandemic had pushed them to bring it back in full strength. “The 32nd edition comes at exactly the right time, as the national team prepares for the second window of the Asian qualifiers in Qatar next February. The Dubai International has been for the national team's benefit over many years.”
He added: “The tournament is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Sports Council, and we hope the council will contribute to the success of a tournament that carries Dubai's name and its long and distinguished history — one of the most important and established competitions in the Arab world and the Middle East.”
“Every club was affected by the pandemic in the past period, so their participation now carries a great deal of meaning for the history of the Dubai International, with each team arriving alongside its own sponsor. That required considerable effort from those running both the clubs and the tournament, and thanks are due to all the sponsors, and to the institutions that always contribute to the success of this hugely popular event.”
Salem Al Mutawa said the organising committee would remain in continuous session until the competition began, adding that every incentive was in place for a return that was exceptional in every respect.
Naji Al Jabri and Issa Darwish both thanked the federation for its confidence in entrusting them with the event, saying the essential aim was to preserve the history of a tournament that has been a source of pleasure for athletes and supporters of the game across the Gulf and the Arab world, and that a range of modern organisational measures would bring it back with greater lustre and strength.
Qassem Daadoush explained the tournament's technical details: three overseas players on each team's list, two of whom may be on court at any time, and 14 players registered per squad.
