Basketball has been part of the Asian Games since the inception of the quadrennial tournament in the 1951 New Delhi Games. However, the women’s competition was included in the 1974 Tehran Games.
Until the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, only 5*5 or five-on-five basketball competition has been played in the multi-sporting event. From the 2018 Asian Games, a new 3*3 or three-on-three basketball event will be introduced.
Venue and Schedule
Basketball 5*5 competition will be played from August 14 to September 1 at two venues at the Hall Basket and Istora in Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan.
Basketball 3*3 competition will be played from August 21 to August 26 at Gelora Bung Karno Center Court (Tennis Outdoor).
Events
Like previous years, the 5*5 Basketball will consist of two events- the men’s team event and the women’s team event.
In the men's 5*5 category, teams are divided into four groups and two teams from every group will proceed to the quarter-final stage.
In the women's 5*5 competition, teams are placed in two groups with four teams from each group making it to the quarter-final stage.
The 3*3 Basketball competition will also include two events- the men’s team event and the women’s team event. The participating teams will be divided in four groups with two teams from each group making it to the quarter-final in both men’s and women’s event.
Asian Games Basketball Teams
Apart from the host nation Indonesia, 14 nations will be contesting in the men's 5*5 event. South Korea, Mongolia, Indonesia (Host) and Thailand are placed Group A. In the Group B, Iran, Philippines, Syria and the UAE are drawn while Group C includes Japan, Qatar, Chinese-Taipei, and Hong Kong. China, Palestine and Kazakhstan are placed in the Group D.
In the women’s 5*5 category, ten teams are drawn into two groups and 'X' group includes Indonesia, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, and India while China, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Mongolia are pitted in the Group 'Y'.
Defending Basketball Asian Games Champions
In the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, South Korea bagged both men's and women's basketball gold medals. In a closely-contested men's final, the hosts defeated Iran 79-77 while the South Korean women beat China by 76-64 to make it golden double.
Favourites for 2018 Asian Games Basketball
All-time highest gold medalists, China will be favourite to capture their eighth gold in the men's 5*5 event. Also, defending champion South Korea will be in contention to replicate their previous success at the games.
In the women’s 5*5 competition, five times gold medalist winner China, South Korea and Japan are likely to be favourites for the yellow metal.
