Oman blank Saudi to lead Group A, Iran top Group B
Saudi Arabia ended in second place with four points followed by Hong Kong in third with two points and Maldives in fourth place with no points. Oman's Assad al Hasani, Said al Hasani and their teammates delivered a top match against Saudi Arabia as they entered to the second stage of the tournament with high morale to go further.
Oman player attempts a shot at Saudi goal.
In Group B, Asian heavyweights Iran claimed the top spot with eight points after a convincing 2-0 win over the Philippines in the concluding round. Jordan came in second with six points, Pakistan third with four points, while the Philippines and India followed with two and nil points respectively.
In the women's competition, two key matches will take place on Tuesday at the sand court of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The Philippines will face India at 6 pm and it will be followed by Vietnam clash against Hong Kong at 7 pm. The women's competition is being held in a double round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championship. Vietnam currently are leading the group standings by six points and followed by the Philippines with four points and then India with two points while Hong Kong with no points are at the bottom.
Oman during an attack at Saudi post.
FULL EFFORT
Oman's Asaad al Hasani said the team will deliver their full efforts in the forthcoming round after beating Saudi.
"The match started strongly from both teams and we lost the focus in the beginning of the first half but we managed to return to the match before end of the opening set. In the second half, we dominated and reached to the opponent's danger area and earned the required points to end the match on a victory note," he said.
Saudi team manager Othman Ahmed praised his players' impressive show at the group stage. 'Thanks to the players for their outstanding performance in the group stage. Now, our target is to focus in the next match against Pakistan in quarterfinals (which took place on Monday night). The coaching staff reviewed the opponent's strength and weak points. Our main objective is secure one of the slots for the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championship,' he said.
Responding to an inquiry on the tight match schedules, he said: 'All players were trained accordingly to play many games within one week time. Also, our last presence in the GCC Beach Games in Muscat was an advantage for the team as it was a good preparation and we adopted with the environment ahead of the Asian event,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
Liverpool's Uruguay striker Nunez joins Al Hilal
Liverpool: Liverpool's Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez has joined Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal from the Premier League champions on a three-year deal, both clubs said on Saturday. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported that the Saudis paid 53 million euros ($61.69 million) plus add-ons that could take the final price tag up to 56.6 million pounds for the 26-year-old. "Al Hilal Club Company is pleased to announce the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool FC on a three-year contract," the Saudi club said on their website. "Nunez has just joined the squad during the current pre-season training camp in Germany," Al Hilal added. Nunez joined Liverpool in June 2022 from Benfica for an initial fee of 75 million euros but struggled for consistency, with 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 games in all competitions. The striker found himself on the fringes of the first team during Liverpool's title-winning campaign last season, starting only eight league matches and netting five times. His departure will help finance Liverpool's outlay of almost 300 million pounds so far for the 2025-26 season. They have already signed Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a club-record fee of up to 116 million pounds and French forward Hugo Ekitike for 69 million plus add-ons. Al Hilal, under former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, became the first Asian club to defeat a Premier League side in an official match when they beat Manchester City at the Club World Cup last month. Inzaghi's new side is aiming to secure a record-extending 20th league title this season, having finished second in the Saudi Pro League last term. Their other high-profile signing of the transfer window was Theo Hernandez from AC Milan. — Reuters
Muscat Daily
4 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Olympic Council of Asia to open first Asian Games Virtual Museum in October
Kuwait City – The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will launch the Asian Games Virtual Museum in October, creating the first comprehensive digital archive of Asia's premier sporting competition. The museum spans seven decades of competition, available in dozens of languages including English, Arabic, Mandarin and Russian, ensuring fans across Asia can explore their sporting heritage whether browsing on a phone or diving into full VR. 'This museum tells the stories that shaped Asian sport,' said Husain Al-Musallam, OCA Director General. 'Every medal ceremony, every record broken, every moment of triumph – they all find a home here. It's how we honour our athletes and share their achievements with the world.' The platform features interactive timelines tracking the Games' growth from 11 participating countries to the 45 OCA member nations. Users can search the archive by sport, country, or athlete, with content available in multiple Asian languages.
Muscat Daily
4 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Queiroz faces tough test with Oman's WC hopes on the line
Muscat – Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz will lead Oman in the decisive fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the national team aiming for its first-ever appearance in the tournament. Oman will compete in Group A alongside Qatar and the UAE. The first match is scheduled for October 8 against hosts Qatar in Doha, followed by a face-off with the UAE at the same venue. Queiroz, 71, has coached Portugal, Colombia, Iran and South Africa, in addition to stints with Real Madrid and as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He led Iran to two World Cups and Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2021. Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad al Mukhaini described Queiroz as a 'big name in the world of coaching' with 'extensive and diverse experience with international teams'. He told ONA the appointment was an important step but stressed it must be backed by 'hard work and sufficient time for the coach to implement his technical ideas'. Former Oman captain Fawzi Bashir said the appointment was a 'successful decision' by Oman Football Association. 'He is no stranger to the region, having worked with Gulf clubs and national teams. This gives him an advantage in understanding the nature of the Gulf player,' he said. Former Oman captain Fawzi Bashir Bashir added that the qualifying campaign would require 'integrated work from the technical, administrative and medical staff, as well as from the fans', with the greatest responsibility on the players. Sports journalist Walid bin Zaher al Abri said the change was needed after recent below-par performances, including a 3-0 defeat to Kyrgyzstan. 'When we talk about Queiroz, we're talking about a coach with a leadership personality and extensive experience.' Abri explained that Queiroz has the ability to bring a technical shift in the national team, but faces significant challenges, particularly in familiarising himself with the players. 'This is complicated by the distinct environment of the Omani team compared to his previous assignments with Iran, Colombia and Egypt – teams with strong leagues and many players active in Europe.' Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad al Mukhaini He added that the Omani league is comparatively underdeveloped and the national team has an older average age, both of which present further challenges for Queiroz to overcome. According to football coach Nasser bin Mohammed al Hajri, the change came with 'some risk' but was necessary. 'In my opinion, he is the most suitable. He has sufficient technical experience and understands the game in the Gulf region,' he said, add-ing that assistant coach Hamad al Azani's knowledge of the players would help bridge Queiroz's lack of direct familiarity.
