MANAMA, July 30: Kuwait Basketball Association President Dhari Barjas praised Bahrain for its outstanding organization of the 26th Arab Basketball Championship, which is set to conclude this Saturday.

Barjas emphasized that Bahrain’s success in hosting the tournament comes as no surprise, given its long-standing reputation for organizing major sporting events with excellence. He noted that Bahrain stepped in on extremely short notice after Tunisia withdrew from hosting duties, yet still managed to deliver a high-level tournament.

“Bahrain’s ability to successfully host this championship under such circumstances highlights its strong organizational capacity,” Barjas said during his visit to the tournament. “This is also reflected in the confidence shown by the International Basketball Federation, which chose Manama as the venue for its most recent Congress—proof of Bahrain’s credibility in hosting major sports events.”

Barjas also pointed out the high level of competition, saying that all participating teams came well-prepared, making it difficult to predict a winner. “I expect the championship race to go down to the final round,” he added.

He noted that Kuwait’s participation was focused on providing young players the opportunity to gain experience by competing against top Arab teams. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, despite the early losses.

Barjas also reassured fans about the condition of player Hussein Ashkanani, who suffered a serious shoulder dislocation during the game against Egypt. Ashkanani underwent successful surgery in Bahrain and is now on the path to recovery. Barjas extended his gratitude to Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, for personally covering the cost of the player's treatment.

In the fourth round of matches held, Bahrain defeated Egypt 91–85, Algeria beat Qatar 92–66, and Tunisia overcame the UAE 78–70. Tunisia currently leads the standings with 7 points, followed by Algeria, the UAE, and Bahrain with 6 points each. Egypt trails with 5 points, while Kuwait and Qatar share the bottom with 3 points apiece.

Kuwait, who had lost its first three matches, played its fourth game late Wednesday night against Algeria.

All teams are scheduled to rest today, with tournament action resuming on Friday and concluding Saturday.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff