What commonality exists among a youth basketball coach, an innovation manager from the Ministry of Sport, and an engineering student? While it may seem like the setup for a joke, these three individuals represent distinct professions within the roster of Saudi Arabia’s newly crowned women’s 3×3 basketball champions.
Earlier this month, on a warm Sunday afternoon in Manama, Kawther ‘Koko’ Khayyat, who is the basketball coach, alongside Jana Salem Balgaith, Abeer Alhamidi, the Ministry of Sport manager, and team member Riman Abdulaziz, played an essential role in leading Team Riyadh to its first major 3×3 title in Saudi Arabia.
They claimed the Manama Women’s Cup, part of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2024 tournament in Bahrain, by securing a hard-fought victory against the local favorites, Al Zallaq, in the final after two days of impressive competition.
For us to represent, and win for, Saudi Arabia – it means a lot,” Alhamidi tells Al Arabiya English. “As a first generation woman playing basketball, to win a first international title is a wonderful thing to achieve.”
In Bahrain, Team Riyadh’s rivals showcased several remarkable performances, especially marked by a well-organized defensive strategy in the final, which was further enhanced by the exceptional shooting skills of leading scorer Koko Khayyat. The 28-year-old from Riyadh was recognized as the tournament MVP for her significant impact.
As a fervent admirer of the Denver Nuggets and their Serbian star Nikola Jokić, Koko transitioned from soccer to basketball upon a coach’s suggestion that her height of 184 cm would be better utilized in basketball.
A gifted player and a charismatic figure on the court, Koko, who coaches at the 22 Basketball Academy in Riyadh, has repeatedly captured the admiration of fans at 3×3 tournaments.
The recent success in Bahrain has raised the bar for 3×3 basketball in Saudi Arabia, with the team’s forthcoming aim being to gain entry into the 3×3 Women’s Series, FIBA’s professional league for women. The players who celebrated this milestone are hopeful that their continued achievements will draw in additional fans and competitors to the sport.
