A schedule has been released for the Asia Oceania Championships ©IWBF

Australia will seek a repeat victory in the men's competition at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Asia Oceania Championships after being drawn in Group A for the event in Beijing later this month.

The Australians have been drawn in Group A alongside Chinese Taipei and Iraq in the 14-team competition.

They beat Iran 78-60 in the 2015 final as Japan took the bronze medal.

Japan will play in Group B this time around alongside Hong Kong and Kuwait.

Iran will lock horns with Thailand, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand in Group C.

Hosts China will meet South Korea, United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan in Group D.

A draw has been made for the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships ©IWBF
A draw has been made for the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships ©IWBF

China versus Afghanistan will be the opening match of the competition.

Action will taking place at the Chinese Paralympic Training Venue in Beijing between October 23 and 28.

The top two teams in each group will progress to the quarter-final, with the four semi-finalists each securing a spot at next year's World Championships in Hamburg from August 17 to 26.

Only four teams are contesting the corresponding women's tournament. 

Australia, Iran, Japan and 2015 winners and hosts China will compete in a round-robin format in which the top two will reach the World Championships.