SHENZEN (China) – As mobile cameras flashed away from the sidelines, the on-court action was not the typical basketball fare one would expect at a premier FIBA continental cup. Indeed, Basketball For Good was back at the forefront.
Close on the heels of similar activations at the recent FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Chile, the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup in China too served as an important occasion to emphasize the inclusive power of hoops.
Two memorable side events were facilitated by FIBA’s Regional Office in Asia on the rest day: a Special Olympics clinic for children and youth with intellectual disabilities, and a girls’ empowerment clinic.
Led by FIBA Hall of Famers and FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Ambassadors Miao Lijie and Yuko Oga, and FIBA Foundation Youth Leader Shao Ting, the sessions presented an unforgettable experience for the next generation of basketball players, coaches and fans.
Special Olympics Clinic powered by Molten
The Special Olympics clinic was supported by FIBA’s longest-standing global partner Molten, who not only supplied free basketballs for the children to take home but even attended the clinic to witness the social impact in action.
“We are honored to support the Special Olympics Clinic at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. At Molten, we believe every child deserves the chance to feel the joy, emotions, and connection that basketball brings. It’s about creating lifelong memories and fostering a deep love for the game—no matter who you are or where you come from,” Noa Hasegawa, Head of Brand Marketing at Molten Corporation, said.
The collaborative effort also built on FIBA Foundation’s existing relationship with Special Olympics, with its Shenzhen branch facilitating the recruitment of participants.
Girls’ Empowerment Clinic
In the second session, Shenzhen’s local girls enjoyed fun games and drills, and developed warm friendships.
The highly engaging interaction saw these girls receive useful advice and inspiration from senior female role models and leaders, motivating them to stay connected to the game for years to come.
Aligned with the objective of increasing the social impact and legacy of its events, the initiatives furthered FIBA’s Strategic Priority “Women in Basketball”, towards increasing female participation in the sport.
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
FIBA