KUWAIT CITY, July 30: The acting director of the Public Authority for Sports, Bashar Abdullah, acknowledged the amateur status of the national youth basketball team and emphasized that their journey is just beginning. He assured the players of unwavering support from the Public Authority for Sports, promising that they would not fall short in assisting, given the players' impressive performance and dedication to the team.

Abdullah made these remarks during his speech at the opening of the Asian Youth Basketball Qualifiers "Gulf Zone," hosted by Kuwait until August 2nd at the Federation Hall in Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex.

He stated, "I am committed to attending all Gulf and continental tournaments hosted by Kuwait, in my capacity as a leader and former athlete. We appreciate the Federation's Board of Directors for the excellent organization and the fantastic sports atmosphere witnessed on the first day of the tournament. We also thank the loyal Kuwaiti fans who attended and supported the Blues, contributing to the success of this Gulf sports gathering." Abdullah expressed his hopes for the Blues to continue their winning streak and qualify for the Asian Youth Cup Finals.

Bashar Abdullah highlighted the Authority's dedication to supporting all federations, clarifying that while they do not set strategies or plans for game development, nor form technical bodies, their role is to support the federations. He urged all boards of directors to organize their work with a comprehensive vision and well-studied work plans, facilitating the Authority's mission to provide the required support according to the organizing systems and regulations.

In the opening match of the qualifiers, Kuwait triumphed 85-66 over Bahrain. In another first-round match, Saudi Arabia defeated Oman 102-55, earning both the Blue and Green teams their first points, while Bahrain and Oman recorded losses. Today, two matches will be held in the third round. Bahrain will face Oman at 5:00 PM, followed by a match between Qatar and Saudi Arabia at 7:30 PM. The Kuwaiti national team will rest today, as per the tournament schedule.