Bahrain Advances to Last Eight Stage in Basketball 3x3 at the Asian Youth Games 2025

The boys’ 3×3 basketball squad representing the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Asian Youth Games 2025 delivered a standout performance on home soil, defeating the People’s Republic of China 21-14 to top Group B and advance to the quarterfinals. 

Played at Umm Al-Hassam Hall B, the match saw Bahrain’s stars shine. Leading the way was Hasan Abdulkadir, whose remarkable 13 points on 11-of-13 shooting (85 % accuracy) anchored the victory. 

His inside scoring was complemented by a crucial two-pointer from Yousif Meshael midway through the game. On the defensive end, Somto Onoduenyi and Sergej Scekic were instrumental, disrupting China's flow and forcing turnovers. 

China entered the contest led by Yao Shengbin but struggled under Bahrain’s defensive pressure, shooting just 42 % from the field and finding it difficult to mount a comeback. 

By finishing top of Group B, Bahrain secured their place in the round of eight and set up a Gulf-driven quarterfinal clash against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Group D winners), scheduled later the same day.

This result marks a significant achievement for Bahrain’s young 3×3 programme and highlights the growing strength of the sport in the region.

The win not only fuels Bahrain’s medal hopes in athletics’ most dynamic discipline but also underscores the value of home-turf advantage, where players fed off local support and momentum. As the team progresses into the knockout phases, the focus now shifts to tactical execution, cohesion and seizing the opportunity to make deeper inroads at the Asian Youth Games.