HANDBALL – BAHRAIN will be looking to make history tonight when they go for gold against a familiar foe in the final of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship in Kuwait City.
The kingdom’s senior men’s handball national team are hoping to secure their first-ever title in the continental tournament, but will have to take down defending champions Qatar in a mouth-watering clash for the crown.
The match is scheduled for a 6pm start at Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim Al Sabah Covered Hall Sports Complex in the Kuwaiti capital.
The Qataris have been dominant in the biennial event over the last decade, winning gold in each of its past six editions, from 2014 up until 2024.
Bahrain have won the silver medals five times in the past – four of which came during Qatar’s reign in 2014, 2016, 2018, and in 2022 – to go along with their other silver-medal triumph in 2010. The Bahrainis were also bronze medal winners in 1995 and in the championship’s last edition in 2024, which was hosted by the kingdom.
The nationals held a light training session yesterday in preparation for today’s game. Swedish head coach Robert Hedin focused on tactics and also worked on the players’ mental readiness.
Bahrain Handball Federation (BHF) president Ali Issa Ishaqi attended the practice alongside other BHF officials. Ishaqi delivered a message of motivation to provide a boost ahead of their tough assignment.
Tonight’s final will be the second meeting between the two teams in this tournament. The Bahrainis and Qataris had already faced off during the main round, when the nationals secured a well-deserved 31-28 victory.
A large crowd of Bahraini fans is expected to attend the contest, especially following the Bahrain Olympic Committee’s announcement that it will be providing buses to transport supporters to the venue.
Hedin has a 19-player squad in Kuwait City. They are led by inspirational skipper Hussain Al Sayyad, while the rest of the roster includes Mohammed Abdulhussain, Mohammed Habib Ahmed, Mohammed Habib Nasser, Hassan Madan, Mohammed Hameed, Jassim Khamis, Ali Alasheeri, Qassim Qambar, Ahmed Kadhem, Abdulla Abdulkareem, Ali Mohammed, Hesham Issa, Sayed Ali Shubbar, Mahmood Hussain, Hussain Mahfoudh, Ali Redha, Jaafar Farsan, and Salman Al Showaikh.
By securing their place amongst the top four in Asia, Bahrain and Qatar – along with losing semi-finalists Japan and hosts Kuwait – have qualified for the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship, to be held in Germany from January 13 to 29 next year.
The Bahrainis have qualified for the showpiece event of the International Handball Federation (IHF) for the seventh time. They made their debut in the tournament in 2011, and have competed in each of the last five editions. Their best-ever classification was in the 2023 worlds when they finished 16th amongst 32 participating countries.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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