Doha: The Qatar Basketball Federation announced Thursday the nomination of Qatari international referee Bandar Al Suwaidi to officiate matches at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, China, from July 13 to 20, with the participation of 16 elite teams from the continent.

According to Qatar News Agency, the nomination comes within the context of the close cooperation between the Qatar Basketball Federation and the FIBA Asia Regional Office, and reflects the great confidence FIBA places in Qatar's national competencies and the role of Qatari referees in raising the level of continental and international refereeing.

Bandar Al Suwaidi is one of the most prominent Qatari referees currently, having officiated numerous local, regional, continental, and international tournaments. His competence and experience have earned him the confidence of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

He was recently approved for the 2025-2027 list of international referees, as announced by FIBA. The international accreditation decision included four Qatari referees: Bandar Al Suwaidi, Yousef Zainal, Alaa Sulaiman, and Yassin Kashkash. They have passed all technical requirements and approved international tests, granting them full eligibility to officiate matches in continental and international tournaments under FIBA's supervision.

The Women's Asian Cup is a significant event in women's basketball, serving as the official qualifiers for the 2026 Women's World Cup in Germany. This gives the tournament competitive importance and increases the demands for accuracy and quality of refereeing.

Through this nomination, the Qatar Basketball Federation affirms its commitment to developing national refereeing cadres and supporting their participation at the highest levels, reflecting the status of Qatari sports and enhancing its presence on the international stage.