Success of FIBA Asia Cup 2025 should represent the best of Saudi Arabia: Hagop Khajirian

DUBAI: Following the trophy reveal for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 on May 12, the second ever edition of the continent’s premier international basketball competition to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia edges ever closer.

It is now less than two months until the 16-team tournament kicks off in Jeddah and the trophy is on a tour of the region as the build up to the tip-off in August ramps up.

“The trophy tour (started) in May (in Shenzhen, China),” said Hagop Khajirian, FIBA executive director for Asia. “It will include Lebanon, Iraq, Tehran, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates before reaching Saudi Arabia, where the trophy will be put on display in several cities, such as Riyadh and NEOM.”

The awarding of the tournament to Saudi Arabia, as with that of the FIBA Women’s Asian Cup 2025 taking place in China this July, was subject to a meticulous selection process.

“A unified system is applied across all continents, including Asia, for hosting continental championships,” Khajirian said. “Four tournaments are held every four years and are awarded through a bidding process led by local federations. To be eligible, countries must meet specific criteria, one of the most important being the availability of a stadium with a minimum capacity of 7,500 spectators, though larger venues are preferred to accommodate greater attendances.

“Hosting privileges are typically granted to countries with prior experience in organizing such events, making it difficult for nations that haven’t hosted any continental championship to secure the rights to the premier men’s tournament,” he added. “All of these factors are carefully considered, and the final decision on the host country rests with the respective continental federation. In