The Indian men’s basketball team, stranded in Doha for 10 days, finally returns

New Delhi: The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) on Tuesday confirmed that the Indian men’s basketball team is finally on its way home after being stuck in Doha for 10 days.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!The team was originally traveling to Doha to compete in the 2027 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, but ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region disrupted international airspace and flight operations, leaving the team temporarily stranded in the Qatari capital.

The Qatar Basketball Association stepped in to provide hotel accommodation and logistical support to ensure the safety of players and staff until the Indian Embassy arranged for their return.On March 8, 2026, the team traveled by road from Doha to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Due to limited flights, the delegation departed in two batches. The BFI said one group flew via the Dammam-Jeddah-Mumbai route and landed at 12:05 noon, while the second group flew directly from Dammam to Lucknow and landed at 5:15 am.The federation added that its president and secretary-general remain in contact with the FIBA ​​Asia office, the Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Doha to ensure the safe return of the team. “The safety and welfare of players is always a top priority,” the BFI said.The federation expressed its gratitude to all those who helped and also thanked FIBA ​​Asia, Qatar Basketball Federation and the Indian embassy in Doha and Saudi Arabia. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to them for their invaluable support and assistance during this challenging time,” a BFI statement read.