HANDBALL – Defending champions Al Najma were held to a thrilling 33-33 stalemate by a battling Al Shabab last night in their gameweek 17 clash of the 2025-26 Khalid Bin Hamad Bahrain Handball League.
Bahrain senior men’s handball national team star Jassim Khamis fired in the tying goal for Shabab with no time remaining on the game clock.
He converted from the penalty stripe to cap an exciting, see-saw affair, played at the Bahrain Handball Federation Arena with no fans in attendance.
With the result, Najma dropped their first point of the season as Shabab snapped their incredible 15-game winning streak.
They kept their position in solo first place, however, four points clear of Shabab, who remain as one of their chief title rivals.
The draw was only the second of the current season and both teams missed out on joining Al Ahli, Al Tadhamun, Tubli, and Al Ettihad as winners from this round, which wrapped up with yesterday’s fixture.
In the clash, Najma took a late two-goal lead after star international Mohammed Habib Ahmed scored to make it 33-31 with less than a minute remaining.
But Shabab’s Hussain Ali netted from seven metres on the right wing to cut the deficit once more, and after Najma tried to kill the time by holding on to possession, Shabab were awarded their penalty with only a second to go in the game.
Khamis stepped forward to take the decisive throw, and he made no mistake with his effort, slotting into the bottom-right corner to salvage the share of the points.
It was also the final action in the contest.
Earlier last night, both teams fought hard from the first possession. Najma went ahead in the opening minutes but Shabab drew level at 7-all.
A Khamis penalty then edged them in front, but Mujtaba Al Zaimour was on target for Najma and he forged yet another deadlock.
The game remained close and Ahmed fired in from the nine-metre line for a 12-11 advantage to spark a three-goal rally for Najma.
But Shabab went on their own run and tied it at 15-apiece.
Two more goals from Ahmed Redha and Isa Jawad, both in transition, then gave Shabab a slim 17-15 advantage heading into the break.
After the re-start, Mahdi Saad was first to score for Najma, but Khamis restored Shabab’s two-goal cushion from the stripe.
Najma then roared back behind the sensational play of Ahmed, who powered them ahead 24-21.
But after Najma went up 26-23, Shabab draw level yet again through Khamis, who was also having an outstanding night.
The two teams continued to trade goals until Ahmed made it 30-30.
He then muscled his way through the Shabab defence and then fed teammate Hasan Madan for a fast-break goal that put Najma up 32-30.
Redha replied for Shabab to cut the deficit once more with under two minutes remaining, and after an Ahmed strike made it 33-31, that set the stage for the game’s last two goals from Ali and the final equaliser by Khamis.
Najma, coached by Ali Al Falahi, improved to 47 points atop the league table, while Shabab, guided by Ahmed Al Madoub, went to 43 markers.
Following the completion of the ongoing preliminary stage, the top four teams will move ahead to the Golden Square semi-finals.
Aside from the Khalid Bin Hamad Bahrain Handball League title, the kingdom’s premier handball squads are also vying for places in the Asian and Arab clubs’ championships, expected to be held later this year.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh