DAMASCUS (Asia) - Syrian basketball returned with aplomb in 2017, but for its progress to continue, focus must be given on developing the country's young talents.

The Syrian Basketball Federation (SBF) did exactly that last 21 January when, in the presence of Mowafak Juma - President of the Syrian Olympic Committee, they held a sports festival for promising Syrian youth who were born in 2005 onwards. The SBF conducted this together with the Technical Committee of Basketball in Damascus and the Mini Basket Committee at the Al Fayhaa Sports Hall here in the capital.

The games were played not with the goal of crowning winners of champions but to emphasize the significance of involving all players. Participation was of paramount importance to establish an overwhelming spirit of cooperation and to celebrate their passion for basketball.

"It was a joyful day for all Syrian children who were deprived of playing during the last seven years," said SBF Secretary-General Daniel Zo Alkafel.

"The objective was to bring the Syrian families together to express our strong and continuous determination for life, and to show that all children of Syria will keep playing basketball in all parts of the country."

The SBF are hoping more events like this will spark renewed interest for basketball in the country, especially with the resurgence of their national team, which had a couple of promising results last year. Syria are currently in Group C of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, and they are set to face fellow West Asian teams Lebanon and Jordan in the second window in February.

FIBA