Qatari Saud bin Ali Elected President of International Basketball Federation

Qatari Saud bin Ali was elected president of the International Basketball Federation on Wednesday, replacing Malian Haman Niang, during a meeting of the General Assembly of the International Basketball Federation in the Philippine capital Manila.

Elections Held During the World Cup

The elections were held on the sidelines of the World Cup, which took place from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani: The New President

Sheikh Saud, who was unanimously elected as Niang’s successor, served as vice president of the International Federation in the previous session starting in 2019 and president of the Asian Basketball Federation since 2002, after he was the former president of the Qatar Football Association and Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

Sheikh Saud (57), who will chair the International Basketball Federation between 2023 and 2027, said in statements from the International Game Federation: “I am honored to take on this responsibility: for me, for my country Qatar, and our Asian continent. Now I represent the interests of all 212 national federations around the world.

The Future of Basketball

And the Qatari Sheikh, whose country will host the next 2027 FIBA World Cup for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region, added: “Basketball is a global sport and it is our most important strength. I can only make one promise today: I will work diligently with the leaders of the FIBA federation and the entire Board of Directors for the good of basketball.”

Source: AFP