Iraq U18 basketball team loses to Iran at West Asia Championship in Jordan

AMMAN, Jordan — Iraq's Under-18 national basketball team fell to Iran 96-29 on the second day of the West Asia Championship in Jordan, suffering its second consecutive defeat after a 91-60 loss to Lebanon on the opening day. Iran controlled the game from start to finish, establishing a clear advantage in both technical execution and physical play. Iraq competes in Group A alongside Iran, Lebanon and Syria, with the tournament running from July 7 to 11 in Jordan. The top three teams in the overall standings will qualify for the Under-18 Asian Championship finals, scheduled to be held in India. The Iraqi Basketball Federation had announced before the tournament that it had sent an 18-player squad with the goal of advancing to the Asian finals.