Chengdu has been announced as the host of the 2017 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championship ©FIBA

Chengdu has been announced as the host of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 Under-18 World Championships in 2017, where France and Qatar will seek to repeat their success at this year’s event.

The French team claimed a 21-12 triumph over the United States in the women’s gold medal contest in Astana earlier this month, with the result seeing them defeat their opponents in the final for the second straight year.

Qatar were 20-12 winners over Brazil in the men’s final at the fifth edition of the Under-18 competition.

Both nations now know that they will attempt to defend their respective titles in Chengdu, after the Chinese city’s Municipal Government and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) were granted hosting rights by FIBA.

Competition is scheduled to be held from June 28 to July 2 next year, with the event taking place in front of the city’s Global Center.

All matches will be played on the same court with 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams competing in a team event, while men’s dunk, women’s skills and mixed shoot-out contests will also be held.

China have reached the quarter-finals of the Under-18 team event on three occasions, with their women the latest to achieve the feat at this year’s edition.

The nation earned bronze in the skills contest in 2011, while they claimed the same colour medal two years later in the dunk event.

France will look to win the women's title for a third straight year in 2017
France will look to win the women's title for a third straight year in 2017 ©FIBA

Chengdu is the home of the reigning CBA champions Sichuan JinQiang Blue Whale, while it has also been the host of several major 3x3 basketball competitions.

The latest, the FIBA 3x3 Challenger, is scheduled to get underway tomorrow and will draw to a close on Sunday (June 19).

FIBA state that at least 30 countries and territories will be represented at next year’s event, with the selection of teams due to be based upon the FIBA 3x3 Federation rankings on November 1.

The rankings are based on both the ability of teams as well as the most active nations, with the governing body claiming it allows them to have the strongest and most active teams on the court.

It will be the second consecutive year that China will host a major FIBA 3x3 competition, with Guangzhou due to host the senior World Championships from October 11 to 15, later this year.

China are also due to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, having beaten the Philippines at a vote last August.