A glimpse of the Federation Cup draw.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 20: Defending champion Kuwait Club has been drawn into a tough Group A in the Basketball Federation Cup, joining Kazma, Arabi, and Al-Qurain. Group B features Qadsia, Sulaibikhat, Naser, and Sahel.

The draw took place at the conference hall of the Basketball Federation headquarters in the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex, attended by Federation Vice President Mohsen Al-Suhmi, Treasurer Ghazi Al-Otaibi, Acting Assistant Secretary and Head of the Training and National Teams Committee Mohammed Al-Hassawi, Assistant Treasurer Mishal Mohammed, and several club representatives.

Kuwait Club will open its title defence with a preliminary-round matchup against Arabi, while Al-Qurain will face last season’s runner-up Kazma in the same group. In Group B, Qadsia meets Sulaibikhat, and Naser takes on Sahel.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Al-Hassawi announced that the federation has signed Serbian coach Marko Ichelich to take charge of the youth and junior national teams, alongside his compatriot Milan Galic as fitness coach. He added that the federation is also working to appoint a physiotherapy specialist as part of preparations for upcoming commitments.

Al-Hassawi noted that the Training Committee has set up a comprehensive preparation plan for the national teams, including two friendlies next week against Thailand’s senior squad, followed by a training camp in Serbia ahead of the Gulf Games and the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. He added that the youth national team will be thoroughly prepared ahead of its participation in the Gulf Basketball Championship, the qualifier for the FIBA Asia Cup finals.

Meanwhile, national coach Khaled Al-Qallaf has begun training sessions for the women’s national team as they gear up for the Gulf Women’s 3x3 Basketball Championship, which kicks off next week in Muscat, Oman.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff