Bahrain’s national under-18 basketball team received a warm welcome upon their arrival at Bahrain International Airport on Friday, 31 July 2026, returning from the Qatari capital, Doha, after being crowned champions of the Gulf Under-18 Basketball Championship and securing qualification for the Asian Cup finals.

Leading the reception for the delegation was Nader Al-Awadhi, Vice President of the Bahrain Basketball Association, in the presence of Abed Al-Ansari, Secretary General of the Association, Dr Moayyed Al-Alawi, Director of the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre at the Bahrain Olympic Committee, as well as a number of officials and players’ family members.

The Bahrain Olympic Committee organised the reception in recognition of the team’s outstanding Gulf achievement, which came shortly after they had also lifted the Arab Championship title. The celebratory atmosphere reflected the joy surrounding the well-deserved triumph and recognised the impressive performances and fighting spirit displayed by the players throughout the competition.

Nader Al-Awadhi congratulated the players and the technical and administrative staff on winning the Gulf title and qualifying for the Asian Cup finals, praising the considerable effort and dedication shown by everyone in raising the flag of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

For their part, the players and members of the technical and administrative staff expressed their pride and appreciation for the warm reception and recognition they received. They affirmed that winning the championship and securing Asian qualification would motivate them to continue working hard and prepare thoroughly for the upcoming continental competition.

The achievement reflects the continued development of Bahraini basketball and the sustained attention given to national youth teams as the cornerstone of the sport’s future.