Qatar’s men’s basketball team began their campaign at the 20th Asian Games with a 59-53 victory over Iran in their opening Group B match on Thursday in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The win gives Qatar an early advantage in their group, as they controlled much of the game against a strong Iranian side.

Qatar, which will host the next FIBA Basketball World Cup, is aiming to build momentum through the group stage. Their next match is scheduled against Jordan on Saturday at 7 a.m. Doha time, followed by a final group match versus Chinese Taipei on Sunday, September 13.

The Asian Games, set to officially open on September 19 and run through October 4, is one of the largest multisport events in the world, featuring over 17,000 athletes and officials competing across 43 sports. The competition in Aichi-Nagoya is expected to draw widespread participation, surpassing even the Olympic Games in scale.