Beirut and Bengaluru to host first-ever FIBA Asia Cups as basketball enters new era in Asian region

BEIRUT, Lebanon (FIBA Asia) - FIBA's Regional Office in Asia on Friday announced that the first-ever FIBA Asia Cup will take place in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut, while the maiden FIBA Women’s Asia Cup is to be staged in the Indian city of Bengaluru.

The announcements came as the calendar for what promises to be an exciting 2017 season of events in the region was unveiled.

The FIBA Asia Cup 2017, FIBA Asia’s flagship event, will be played from August 17-27, while the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 is to be held from July 23-29.

"The 2017 FIBA events in Asia mark a new era for basketball competitions in the continent," said FIBA Executive Director - Asia, Mr Hagop Khajirian, while announcing the calendar. "For the first time in history, Australia and New Zealand will compete with Asian teams in all five events that will take place this year. While this adds a new level to the depth of the competitions, we also expect the events themselves to become more attractive to the fans across these two FIBA regions. "

Sixteen teams, including Australia and New Zealand, will battle for top honors in the FIBA Asia Cup 2017. The top 14 teams from that event will then be joined by two teams to be decided by the Regional Office and compete in Division A of FIBA’s New Competition System.

The FIBA Asia Women's Cup 2017 will see Australia and New Zealand match wits with Asian champions Japan as well as China, Korea, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea and Philippines in Division A. Six more teams, including hosts India, will go head to head in Division B in a bid to earn promotion to Division A of the next FIBA Asia Women's Cup.

India will also host the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2017 which will feature eight teams in Division A. China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei along with Hong Kong and Thailand will have their work cut out as they take on Australia and New Zealand in Division A from October 22-28. India will head the list of participants in the tournament’s Division B.

The FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017 will be played in Shenzen, China from September 22-30. The premier club basketball event in Asia will feature the domestic league champions from 10 national federations in Asia.

The host for the FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2017 will be announced soon.

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