TEHRAN - The Iranian national under-18 basketball team tipped off its FIBA U18 Asia Cup campaign with a commanding 94-69 victory over Qatar on Friday in Ahmedabad, India.
Head coach Hasanpour’s squad controlled the tempo early in their Group C opener, establishing a double-digit lead by halftime.
Mohammad Shamsi led the charge for Iran, delivering a standout all-around performance with 19 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and an efficiency rating of 28. Amirreza Azhari added 16 points, while Mohammad Yashar Kamal Khaledi and Mohammad Safa Behnia contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Iran controlled the opening quarter 19-9 and further widened the gap in the second term to take a 49-26 lead at halftime. Despite Qatar outscoring Iran 26-21 in the third quarter, the Iranian squad secured the win with a strong 24-17 closing performance in the final period.
Drawn in Group C alongside China, Qatar, and Sri Lanka, Iran will return to action on Sunday, August 16, at 11:30 AM against Sri Lanka before concluding the group stage against China on Tuesday, August 18, at 8:30 AM.
The 16-team tournament runs through August 23 in Ahmedabad, with the top four finishing nations earning qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.