The 2024 IWBF U23 Asia Oceania Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, has concluded, with Australia, Japan, and Iran securing their places at the 2025 U23 World Championship. This year’s tournament delivered thrilling competition, emerging talent, and milestones for teams across the region.
Australia Crowned Champions
Australia took home the gold medal, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout the tournament. The team’s success was driven by the leadership and experience of co-captains Eithen Leard and Jaylen Brown. Leard’s exceptional playmaking, paired with Brown’s scoring dominance, proved too much for their opponents, including a decisive 67-41 victory over Japan in the final.
Japan and Iran Complete the Top Three
Japan claimed the silver medal after a strong campaign that showcased their tactical precision and resilience. A crucial 65-58 comeback win against Iran during the group stages proved vital in securing their place in the final. Trailing for much of the game, Japan rallied late to snatch the lead and cement their spot among the championship contenders.
Iran earned bronze with a commanding 66-19 win over the Philippines in the third-place game, securing the final qualification spot for the 2025 U23 World Championship.
Milestones and Development
This year marked Saudi Arabia’s debut at the U23 Asia Oceania Championship, a historic moment for their programme as they earned their first-ever win against Thailand. The Philippines and India also made significant strides during the competition, with the Philippines achieving a historic 4th-place finish, showcasing their growth and potential on the international stage.
All-Star Team and MVP
The All-Star Team celebrated the top performers across all categories, highlighting the incredible talent on display:
- 1.0–1.5: Abolfazl Jalaei 🇮🇷 (Iran, 1.0)
- 2.0–2.5: Eithen Lear 🇦🇺 (Australia, 2.0)
- 3.0–3.5: Anthony De Mesa 🇵🇭 (Philippines, 3.0)
- 4.0–4.5: Shinsaku Iwata 🇯🇵 (Japan, 4.5)
- MVP: Jaylen Brown 🇦🇺 (Australia, 4.0)
*The All-Star Team is not required to meet the 14-point rule but instead honors the best player in each sports classification, with the MVP chosen for overall excellence.
The 2025 U23 World Championship Qualification
The 2025 U23 World Championship will bring together teams from all four IWBF zones. Qualification tournaments have determined or will determine the final participants, with spots allocated based on the final standings from the 2021 U23 World Championship in Phuket, Thailand:
- 5 teams from Europe: Great Britain, Germany, Türkiye, Italy, and Israel.
- 3 teams from Asia Oceania: Australia, Japan, and Iran.
- 3 teams from the Americas (including host Brazil 🇧🇷).
- 1 team from Africa.
Europe’s qualifiers were decided during the 2024 U23 European Championship in Madrid last June. The Asia Oceania qualifiers were confirmed this week in Bangkok, with Australia, Japan, and Iran securing their spots.
The remaining places will be decided at the upcoming Americas and Africa zonal qualification tournaments. Two teams will qualify from the Americas, with dates and location to be announced, while one team from Africa will earn their spot, with further details to follow.
These zonal tournaments provide young athletes with a valuable opportunity to compete at the highest level, representing their zones and earning the chance to participate at the 2025 U23 World Championship in São Paulo, Brazil.
For more information:
- Live Stream: IWBF YouTube Channel
- Statistics: IWBF Statistics Page
Photos Credit: X-1 - Shingo ITO/IWBF
