BASKETBALL – Bahrain’s under-23 women’s and men’s 3×3 basketball national teams hit the half-court today in the first of six stops in the Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026-Asia West/Pacific conference in Singapore.

Bahrain are one of six nations taking part in both the women’s and men’s events.

The others are Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and home side Singapore.

The women’s national squad features top 3×3 players Bayan Salman, Ninel Merkotun, Polina Sviatskaia, JaMya Robinson, Noor Najaf, and Amina Hani.

They are coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Murtadha Mohammed.

The men’s team is composed of Ismail Kamal, Meshal Mohammed, Nasser Alanzoor, Mohammed Alanzi, Elyas Younes, and Hamad Faisal.

They are coached by Bogdan Dragovic, who is a player on the Fiba 3×3 World Tour.

The upcoming Fiba 3×3 Youth Nations League 2026-Asia West/Pacific events act as qualification for the Fiba 3×3 U23 World Cup, which is to be held in Hubei, China, from September 15 to 19.

Today’s opening stop is to be followed by the second tomorrow and the third on Saturday.

Following a rest day on Sunday, action resumes with stop four on Monday, with the last two stops taking place the next two days.

Teams earn points in each of the stops, which will lead to determining who qualifies for the worlds.

Both Bahrain’s women and men are in Pool A of their respective competitions today alongside Saudi and hosts Singapore.

Pool B features Australia, Qatar, and Turkmenistan.

The Bahraini women get their campaign underway against the Singaporeans at 11.10am before playing their Saudi counterparts at 1pm.

In the men’s competition, Bahrain first lock horns with the Singaporeans at 9.45am and then take on their Saudi counterparts at 1.25pm.

Bahrain’s teams must finish atop Pool A in order to advance to their respective finals, where they will take on the winners of Pool B.

The women’s title-decider is scheduled for 2pm followed by the men’s at 2.25pm. All times are Bahrain.

5 August 2026  3 min read

Great Britain has named its U21 and U23 men’s and women’s squads for the upcoming FIBA 3×3 Nations League events, with four teams set to represent the country across three international stops in August.

The U23 squads will begin their campaign in Czechia from 6-8 August, before travelling to Slovakia for the second stop from 11–13 August, where they will compete for qualification to the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in China this September.

Meanwhile, the U21 men’s and women’s teams will head to Romania from 7-9 August, continuing their development against some of Europe’s strongest emerging 3×3 nations.

The Nations League forms a key part of Great Britain’s long-term 3×3 pathway, providing young athletes with regular international competition while allowing players to earn valuable FIBA ranking points that contribute towards the nation’s Olympic ambitions.

Among those selected are Katie Januszewska (pictured) and Ella Doherty, who join the squads after representing England and Scotland respectively at the recent Commonwealth Games, bringing further international experience into the GB programme.

The national teams have been preparing for the Nations League stops at the University of East London, following the partnership between Great Britain Basketball and the institution announced last month.

The upcoming campaign also marks the first 3×3 events for GB since the appointment of General Manager Andy McSweeney and Head of 3×3 Basketball Alice Hamilton, as the programme continues to strengthen its structure and build towards future international success.

Head of GB 3×3 Basketball Alice Hamilton said:

“The U21 and U23 programmes are a vital part of Great Britain’s 3×3 pathway, giving our best young athletes the opportunity to compete internationally while earning valuable FIBA ranking points that support our Olympic ambitions.

“We’re proud to provide another route to success for basketball players across the UK, creating more opportunities to represent Great Britain and accelerate the growth of 3×3.

“Congratulations to all those selected, we’re excited to see this group compete and help shape the future of GB 3×3.”

3×3 Programme Delivery Manager Meehra Gorasia added:

“The Nations League is one of the most important competitions in the 3×3 calendar for our young athletes, providing consistent, high-level international competition against some of Europe’s strongest nations. It’s an invaluable opportunity for players to test themselves, gain experience and continue their development within the GB pathway.

“We’ve been really encouraged by the commitment and progress shown throughout the selection process and preparation camps. The standard has continued to rise, making selection increasingly competitive, which is exactly where we want the programme to be.

“This is an exciting group with a great blend of talent, work ethic and potential. We’re looking forward to seeing them embrace the challenge, continue building valuable FIBA ranking points and represent Great Britain with pride throughout the summer.”

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