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[루키=이동환 기자] The Asian Cup qualifiers have been stopped in Qatar. If no new venue is found, the Asian Cup qualifying schedule itself is expected to be postponed.
The Korea Basketball Association received an official letter from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the early morning of the 12th regarding the rescheduling of the 2021 Asian Cup qualifying window 3 schedule, which was scheduled to be held in Qatar from the 17th.
According to FIBA, it has become virtually impossible for the Asian Cup qualifier to be held in Qatar.
An official from the association said, “I got a call from FIBA early in the morning. Qatar is currently on an increasing number of coronavirus cases, and this has led the Qatar Ministry of Health and Welfare to cancel all events and sports competitions held in their country from February 12th. He said he gave the order.”
The Korean basketball team is in Group A of the Asian Cup qualifying round, along with the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. As originally scheduled, the team was scheduled to convene on the 12th and leave for Qatar by plane at 9:30 am on the 13th.
However, the FIBA’s sudden notification made the schedule completely twisted. First of all, it is in an’all-stop’ state.
An official from the association said, “FIBA will look for alternatives to take the qualifying schedule in the near future. Twelve countries (A, B) that will participate in the Qatar qualifying schedule until 2 o’clock in Lebanon local time, that is, 9 PM Korean time. , Group E) informed me that I would send a related letter.”
First of all, what is certain at this point is that in Qatar, the Asian Cup qualifying schedule is no longer possible. There is even a possibility that the Asia Cup Windows 3 schedule itself will be postponed altogether. This is because, in reality, it is very difficult to find a new venue suddenly with the national team departing from Korea.
An official from the association said, “There is a possibility that the Windows 3 qualifying schedule itself will be canceled at all. We have to wait for a call from FIBA by 9pm. We are all on emergency duty on holidays due to a sudden situation. “I’m not sure everyone is in a’menbung’ situation. I’m very embarrassed. I’m going to wait and see.”
Photo = courtesy of FIBA
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