BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The FIBA Asia Board held its first meeting for the new cycle 2023-2027 at the Dubai Sports Council Headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

The meeting was chaired by FIBA Asia President Dr. K Govindaraj, while in attendance were also FIBA President Sheikh Saud Bin Ali Al Thani, FIBA Secretary General Mr. Andreas Zagklis, and FIBA Executive Director Asia, Mr. Hagop Khajirian.

The cycle’s first Board meeting took place at the close of yet another productive period where the Regional Office in Asia delivered some key initiatives - during the period between August 2022 and November 2023 - including the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Draw, the continental youth events in combination with two FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers (W5 and 6), and the successful delivery of the inaugural season of FIBA’s latest pan-regional competition, the FIBA West Asia Super League.
 
The plan to launch a new pan-regional competition for East and Southeast Asian clubs was introduced to the Board. This new ambitious project aims to strengthen relationships between FIBA, the National Federations, and the National Leagues and create a strong ecosystem for basketball in the continent. Details on the new club competition will be made available at a later date.

The 2024 and 2025 FIBA Asia events were also among the main topics discussed during the meeting.

The Board was also presented with:

• The activity reports and programs carried out by the Regional Office’s Competitions, National Federation and Sport, and Communications departments

• A report on the inaugural season of the FIBA West Asia Super League season and updates about the second season that will tip off on November 13, 2023

• A report on the East Asia Super League and developments with regards to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup

• The list of potential hosts for FIBA Asia’s 2024 and 2025 competitions

Prior to the start of the meeting, the Board members were given a tour of the Dubai Sports Council headquarters by its Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Nasser Al Rahma, and UAE Basketball Association President Mr. Ismail Gergawi.

FIBA