Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: After being stranded 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. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The team had travelled to Doha for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, but ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region disrupted international airspace and flight operations, leaving the contingent temporarily stranded in the Qatari capital.
The Qatar Basketball Federation stepped in to provide hotel accommodation and logistical support, ensuring the safety and security of players and staff until arrangements for their return could be made by the Embassy of India.On March 8, 2026, the team travelled by road from Doha to Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Due to limited flight availability, the delegation departed in two groups. One group flew via the Dammam-Jeddah-Mumbai route, landing at 12:05 AM, while the second group took a direct flight from Dammam to Lucknow, landing at 5:15 AM, BFI said.The federation added that its president and secretary general remained in constant contact with the FIBA Asia office, the Government of India, and the Indian Embassy in Doha to ensure the safe return of the team. “The safety and well-being of the players remained the highest priority throughout,” the BFI said.Expressing gratitude to all who assisted, the federation thanked FIBA Asia, the Qatar Basketball Federation, and the Indian embassies in Doha and Saudi Arabia. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable support and assistance during these challenging times,” the BFI statement read.
