Indian men’s basketball team (Pic credit: BFI) NEW DELHI: After being stuck in Doha for 10 days, the Indian men’s basketball team is finally on its way back home, the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) confirmed on Tuesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The team traveled to Doha for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers, but ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region disrupted international airspace and flight operations, leaving the contingent temporarily stranded in the Qatari capital.
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The Qatar Basketball Federation has stepped in to provide hotel accommodation and logistical support and ensure the safety and security of the players and staff until the Embassy of India can make arrangements for their return.On March 8, 2026, the team traveled by road from Doha to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Due to the limited availability of flights, the delegation departed in two groups. One group flew via the Dammam-Jeddah-Mumbai route, landing at 12:05 pm, while the other group took a direct flight from Dammam to Lucknow, landing at 5:15 am, BFI said.The federation added that its president and general secretary remained in constant contact with the FIBA Asia office, the Indian government and the Indian embassy in Doha to ensure the team’s safe return. “The safety and well-being of the players remained the highest priority throughout,” the BFI said.The federation expressed its gratitude to all those who helped and thanked FIBA Asia, the Qatar Basketball Federation and the Indian embassies in Doha and Saudi Arabia. “We express our sincere gratitude for their invaluable support and assistance during these challenging times,” the BFI said in a statement.
