LookAtVietnam – Viet Nam is well prepared and ready to compete at the third Asian Indoor Games, said head coaches of the men’s and women’s three-on-three basketball teams.

“We are not familiar with our opponents. However, we have prepared thoroughly and are ready for the competition,” said Ly Vinh Khang, head coach of the men’s team, adding that one disadvantage faced by Vietnamese players was their limited height.

“In the pre-AI Games III tournament, the women’s basketball team ranked second. However, the team has only played against India at the Asian championships that we lost,” said Le Nhu Quang, head coach of women’s. The team has never played any of the other teams before, he said.

Eleven countries participating in the men’s event have been divided into two groups with Jordan and Iran top seeded in Group A and B respectively.

Viet Nam is in Group B along with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Group A has Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Nepal, India and Thailand.

Five countries – Kuwait, Jordan, India, Thailand and hosts Viet Nam – are taking part in the women’s event and will compete in a round-robin format.

Lee Kak Kuan, technical director of the Asian International Basketball Federation (FIBA), said there were 11 referees, including one from Viet Nam, to adjudicate in the competition. In the group stage, each match will have one referee. From the semifinal onwards, each match will have two referees.

This is the first time that three-on-three basketball has officially become an event at the AI Games.

This year’s games will be held at the Lanh Binh Thang Gymnasium from October 31 to November 6.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News