Qatar’s basketball sector has gained increased institutional traction following the announcement of the launch of Qatar Universities Basketball Cup 2018 – a joint venture between Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). The second of its kind, this year’s tournament will feature men’s and women’s divisions from various universities.
The 2018 tournament, in partnership with QBF, was launched during a press conference at the Education City Student Centre recently. The launch was attended by officials and representatives of QBF and HBKU, whose partnership dates back last year in September when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which underlined a mutual effort towards the development of basketball participation and competitions for university students in Qatar.
Speaking on the far-reaching significance of national participation in sports competitions, Adam Al Saadi, Director of Community Outreach and Student Relations at HBKU, said they are looking forward to another exciting competition, following the success of last year’s inaugural tournament.
From an educational perspective, group sports such as basketball draw people together and create a unique atmosphere of camaraderie, while fostering diligence and competitive spirit. These are integral values that establish a platform to awards and recognise university talent with a particular view towards the government’s commitment to an upgraded cultural enrichment and sports excellence sector, underlined in the Second National Development Strategy.’
Secretary General of Basketball Federation Ali Al Maliki said the tournament is an important milestone as it engages a wider audience. He said that they were especially proud of the distinguished players who are set to take part in the competition.
The first match of the tournament will kick off this Sunday, 30 September. Two games will be played each day, four nights per week, over a period of eight weeks until the grand finals on 19 November. Both the men’s and women’s divisions will have seven teams.
Players hail from different universities in Qatar: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, College of the North Atlantic – Qatar, Georgetown University Qatar, HBKU, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar University, Texas A&M University at Qatar, VCUarts Qatar and Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar.
In the lead-up to 2022 FIFA World Cup, the nation is witnessing a transformative growth and diversification in its cultural and sports industries. Basketball in particular has been highlighted as a popular leisurely activity with a growing number of local clubs in recent years.
Earlier this month, QF hosted four leading NBA stars – Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson, Luke Walton and Tracy McGrady – during their visit to Qatar, reinforcing the nationwide commitment to encourage young people in sports. Qatar Universities Basketball Cup 2018 further encapsulates a national aspiration of youth development that is built on the global outreach potential of community sporting events.
Check out this link for more information about the Qatar Universities Basketball Cup 2018.
