HANDBALL – DEFENDING champions Al Najma got their 2025-26 Khalid Bin Hamad Bahrain Handball League campaign off to a winning start last night.
Najma outclassed Bahrain Club 33-18 in their opening clash of the first round in the kingdom’s top-tier annual handball competition.
The new campaign, which is the 52nd in league history, is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Najma were a force in their fixture yesterday, holding a 14-8 and never giving away control.
Meanwhile, in the other game on opening night, Al Ahli defeated Tubli 35-30. Ahli led 16-12 at the break and maintained their fine form over the remainder of the contest.
There are 11 teams in all challenging for this year’s title. The others are Al Dair, Barbar, Al Tadhamun, Al Shabab, Al Ettifaq, Al Ettihad, and Samaheej.
Matches are to be played in a double round-robin, after which the top four clubs will advance to the Super League, which will eventually determine the season’s overall champions.
The teams ranked fifth through eighth will qualify for the lower-tier President’s Cup.
League action continues tonight with two more games on schedule. Ettihad face Samaheej at 6.45pm and then Barbar play Tadhamun at 8.30pm.
The last day of week one will be tomorrow, when Shabab go up against Dair in the lone fixture at 6.45pm.
All games are being played at the Bahrain Handball Federation Arena in Um Al Hassam.
&uuid=(email))