The team preparing for the opening match against UAE.

MANAMA, July 23: The Kuwait national basketball team arrived in Bahrain to begin final preparations for the 26th Arab Basketball Championship, which tips off tomorrow in Manama. Kuwait is set to face the United Arab Emirates in its opening match of the tournament, which runs until August 2.

The team recently wrapped up its overseas training camp in Istanbul, where it played several friendly matches aimed at building cohesion and evaluating player readiness in pursuit of a strong showing in the regional event.

This year’s tournament features seven teams: UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Hosted at Khalifa Sports City Hall, the championship follows a single-round league format, with the title awarded to the team that accumulates the highest number of points.

Head coach Oliver Kostic of Serbia and assistant coach Khaled Al-Qallaf ensured all players received match time during friendlies against Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Azerbaijan, allowing the coaching staff to gauge the overall readiness of the squad ahead of competitive play.

Kuwait will be without several standout players for the tournament, including Hamad Adnan, Turki Hamoud, Alexander Al-Ghais, and Imran Jawhar. The final 12-man roster features a mix of promising young talent and seasoned veterans, including Ahmed Al-Balushi, Abdulaziz Al-Hamidi, and Abdulrahman Al-Sahou.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff