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Observer
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman set up Iran final in Asian beach handball
MUSCAT: Oman will take on Iran in a tight final clash of the 10th edition of AHF Asian Beach Handball Championship which will conclude on Thursday after intense competitions in the last few days at the sands court of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The national team players are targeting for their second Asian title after the first one in 2004. The summit clash will kick off at 8 pm while the third and fourth playoff between Jordan and Pakistan will start at 7 pm at the same venue. Oman team, coached by Hamood al Hasani, are all set with confidence to regain the title since the first title which was won in 2004 during the inaugural edition hosted in Muscat. Oman team had arrived to the final in six times but could not win the title except in the opening edition. Oman team secured a slot in the final after a thrilling 2-0 win over Jordan in the semifinal while Iran beat Pakistan with the same result to seal their berth in the concluding match of the Asian event. Both Oman and Iran confirmed their presence in the forthcoming edition of the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships. Coach Hamood al Hassani and his assistant Jaber al Balushi worked out on a strong tactics to deliver top match against Iran and clinch a new Asian title. The coaching staff prepared the team players for today's assignment against heavyweights Iran team which managed to lift the title in 2022. Oman player makes a goal attempt against Jordan. ONE STEP AWAY Speaking ahead of the final encounter, coach Hamood said:' We are just one step away from the title in our home country. The final against Iran will depend on small areas and the team with less mistakes will get the title. I am fully confident that my players will deliver their outmost efforts towards earning a victory and clinching the title,' he said. 'Our tactics was to focus in each game as final in this tournament and we managed to win all the games until reaching the final. In the semifinal against Jordan, I did some tactical shifts and positional changes which kept the opposition off balance, proving decisive in securing the win,' he added. Moosa bin Khamis al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Handball Association (OHA), appreciated team's fighting spirit in their semifinal triumph. 'Their performance was a true reflection of Omani grit and sportsmanship,' he said. 'We are proud of their qualification to the IHF World Championship next year and I hope they will now take the Asian title.' Al Balushi urged fans to show up in full force for the final: 'I am looking forward to see more fans who are acting as the heartbeat of this team and their energy will be vital as we chase our second continental title,' he concluded. FINAL CEREMONY The final match of the Asian event and concluding ceremony will be held under patronage of His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee in presence of Dr Hassan Moustafa, International Handball Federation (IHF) President, and other top officials. In the women's division, two matches are scheduled on Thursday. India will face Hong Kong and the match will kick at 5 pm while the title-deciding showdown between Vietnam and Philippines will start at 7 pm. Vietnam currently lead the standings with 10 points, followed by the Philippines with eight and both have punched their tickets to the 2026 IHF World Championship.
Observer
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman edge Philippines to move into semis
MUSCAT: International Handball Federation (IHF) President Dr Hassan Moustafa was all praise for the hosts Sultanate of Oman for its excellent organisation of the underway AHF Asian Beach Handball Championship – Muscat 2025 which acts as qualifiers to the IHF World Championship. 'The Sultanate of Oman had improved and shaped up very well in their organising capabilities specially when it comes to the big events including the continental and global championships. Oman has once again demonstrated its exceptional capability in hosting continental and international tournaments with high efficiency and professionalism. Oman is no stranger to hosting global events. The Sultanate of Oman previously organised the IHF Beach Handball World Championship in 2012 successfully and it reaffirms these days its readiness and capability to host the world's largest handball events. The country offers an integrated infrastructure, qualified human resources, strong logistical and organisational capacities, and institutional support from the government and relevant stakeholders,' the IHF chief said. Oman Muhannad al Zarafi was named as best player of the match. 'What truly distinguishes Oman is the presence of strong sports leadership, a passionate and loyal fanbase, and highly skilled players who bring both talent and spirit to the game. These factors strongly support the growth and future of handball in the country,' the Egyptian official said. Speaking on the ongoing Asian Championship in Muscat, Dr Moustafa responded: 'The Asian tournament has showcased a high technical level with exciting competition and the emergence of new talents across participating teams. The presence of an elite group of referees and coaches has positively contributed to the quality and credibility of the tournament,' he said. Dr Moustafa affirmed that the IHF's eagerness to further enhance cooperation with the Oman Handball Association in the near future, praising Oman's strategic vision and global commitment to the development and promotion of handball. 'I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Handball Association, and all public and private entities that contributed to the success of this important Asian championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the IHF Beach Handball World Championship. Oman has truly set a benchmark in excellence.' International Handball Federation President Dr Hassan Moustafa attends a match in Muscat. OMAN INTO SEMIS Oman advanced to the semifinals of the AHF Asian Handball Beach Championship following their thrilling 2-1 over Philippines in penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. Oman Muhannad al Zarafi was named as best player of the match. This is the second time in the tournament that Muhannad was named as best player as he had previously earned the honour in the match against Hong Kong. Earlier in the group stage, Oman's goalkeeper Hudhaifa al Siyabi received the Best Player award in the match against the Maldives. Furthermore, Oman's Asaad al Hasani took the Best Player award in Oman's match against Saudi Arabia in the concluding group fixture. In earlier quarterfinal matches, Pakistan overcame Saudi Arabia with a 2-1 win while Jordan beat Hong Kong 2-0. In the last quarterfinal clash, Iran secured a 2-0 victory over the Maldives. In the women's competition, Philippines defeated Hong Kong 2-0, and Vietnam continued their dominant form with a 2-0 win over India. Vietnam maintained the top position in the standings, followed by the Philippines in second, India in third and Hong Kong in fourth. Meanwhile, the IHF has announced an expansion of the 2026 Beach Handball World Championship as the number of participating teams were increased to 32 including 16 men's teams and 16 women's teams. From the Asian continent, the top two teams in each category from the Muscat 2025 championship will secure the qualification.
Observer
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Competition heats up at Asian Beach Handball championship
MUSCAT: The quarters phase of the 10th Asian Men's and Women's Beach Handball Championship 2025 — qualifiers for the 2026 Beach Handball World Championship — will kick off on Monday at the sands court at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. A total of six matches will be played including two matches for the women's category. In today's matches, all the eight qualified teams will eye to secure slots in the semis which will take place on Tuesday while the final is scheduled on Thursday with one day rest in between. The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) decided to give the opportunity for all the teams to get the chance for moving into the second round of the tournament with this playing format. The first-placed team in Group A will play the fourth-positioned team in Group B. Similarly, for the other groups, the different teams will play against different ranking teams in the group order. In the women's competition, Philippines will meet Hong Kong, and the match will kick off at 6:00 pm and it will be followed by Vietnam and India match which will begin at 7:00 pm. Qualifiers for the 2026 Beach Handball World Championship — will kick off today at the sands court at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex THRILLING COMPETITION Salim al Saadi, Event Director, said that the group matches of the tournament featured strong competition. ' I believe the competitions will heats up as the event will move into the next round. I am expecting a thrilling games especially some of the teams will eye to go further in the event and secure slot to the IHF World Championship,' he added ' I would like to thank all the participating teams and delegations for their commitment and cooperation with the organizing committee to register the required success in this tournament. All the organizing committee members and volunteers are working very hard for an exceptional closing ceremony that will be remembered by all participating teams. The event will include various segments and honor government and private entities that contributed to the success of the tournament, along with awarding the top three teams in both the men's and women's categories,' he ended FOURTH PARTICIPATION FOR MAHER Oman's national team former player, Maher bin Saif al Dugheishi, a member of the Asian Beach Handball Committee, was selected by the technical committee to be as a match supervisor in this tournament. This is the his fourth participation for him in Asian beach handball tournaments as he had previously served as a supervisor in qualifiers held in Iran (2022), Bali, Indonesia (2023), and Bangkok, Thailand (2024). He is the only Omani nominated by the Asian Handball Federation for this supervisory role, a testament to their confidence in his capabilities. On the other hand, Oman's national team players including Asaad al Hasani and his teammate Said al Hasani are the most experienced players from the national team. Both players had represented Oman in several editions of the IHF World Championship and delivered strong performances in this tournament. Asaad typically plays as a utility player (joker) while Said is a core member of the starting lineup. Both players are among the key players for the national team head coach Hamood al Hasani who will rely on them in the forthcoming matches.
Observer
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Asian beach handball opens with spectacular ceremony
MUSCAT, May 6 The 10th AHF Asian Men's and Women's Beach Handball Championship made a spectacular start in Muscat following the grand opening ceremony at sands court in the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Tuesday night. The championship, which is acting as the qualifiers for the 2026 IHF Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships, will run in Muscat until May 15 in presence of nine teams for Men's competition distributed into two groups while one group for women's competition including four teams. Khalid Mohammed al Zubair, the former Oman Olympic Committee chairman and Chairman of Oman International Development and Investment Company (Ominvest), officially announced the start of the tournament in presence of Moosa Khamis al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Handball Association (OHA) and Head of the Organising Committee, Bader Dhiyab, Vice-President of the International Handball Federation (IHF) and Treasurer of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), members of the OHA board, officials from AHF, heads of participating sports federations, and national team delegations. The matchday two on Wednesday will see three matches. Jordan will meet the Philippines in Group B at 6 pm while Pakistan will take on Iran in the same group. Saudi Arabia will eye for strong start against Hong Kong in Group A at 7 pm. The top four in each group will secure slots directly to the quarterfinals on May 12. The semifinals are scheduled for May 13 while the final is on May 15. The women's competition includes four teams playing each other twice in a league round-robin format across 12 games in total. Asian beach handball opening2 IDEAL DESTINATION The OHA chairman in his welcome speech said that everyone is delighted to extend the warmest welcome to all participants here in beautiful city of Muscat. 'Oman has set with a perfect venue for such a prestigious Asian event. The city's tourism-friendly climate, natural beaches and infrastructure have made it an ideal destination for hosting major tournaments, reflecting Oman's continuous advancement in the sporting field. Hosting this championship affirms Oman's leadership in organising international sports events and reinforces its strategic role as a prime hub for beach sports.' 'Our beaches have long been a captivating destination for thrilling and skillful sports like beach handball. Oman previously hosted the IHF World Championship, and this event once again highlights the broader impact of sports, extending beyond competition to tourism, economic stimulation, and global promotion of Oman as an ideal beach sports destination,' he concluded. Bader Dhiyab, Vice-President of IHF and Treasurer of the AHF, delivered a speech on behalf of the AHF: 'I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the success of the 10th AHF Asian Men's and Women's Beach Handball Championship – Qualifiers for the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championship. This major Asian gathering is one of the AHF's key objectives, bringing together youth from across Asia.' 'We wish all participating teams the best of luck and extend sincere thanks to the Oman Handball Association for their tremendous efforts in organising this significant event. We also recognise the outstanding work of Omani youth in ensuring the success of this and other international championships.' The ceremony featured a visual presentation highlighting Oman's history of hosting major beach handball tournaments and the national team's achievements. This was followed by a traditional artistic performance titled 'Our Heritage, Our Pride – and on the Sands Lies Our Glory'. The ceremony concluded with the official declaration of the tournament's opening by the chief guest.
Arab Times
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait to host Asian Handball Championship and World Cup qualifiers
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Executive Council of the Asian Handball Federation has approved the schedule for the 22nd Asian Championship, which will serve as the "2027 World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Kuwait in January 2026, with matches set to take place at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex Hall, starting on January 26. Kuwait's bid to host the championship received unanimous approval from the Executive Office, granting the country the honor of organizing this prestigious event. The tournament will determine the four teams that will qualify for the 2027 IHF World Championship in Germany. Commenting on the announcement, Qaed Al-Adwani, Secretary General of the Kuwait Handball Federation, expressed pride in hosting the Asian qualifiers under the directives of Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs. He emphasized Kuwait's proven track record in successfully organizing Asian tournaments and highlighted the strong support from Minister Al-Mutairi and Bashar Abdullah, Director General of the Public Authority for Youth. 'All preparations for the championship will be meticulously handled by the organizing committees to ensure a world-class event that upholds Kuwait's reputation on the international stage,' Al-Adwani said. 'Additionally, an intensive preparatory program will be put in place for the national team ahead of the tournament.' Talal Al-Otaibi, a member of the Kuwait Handball Federation's Board of Directors and the Arab Handball Federation, underscored the significance of this unanimous decision, which reflects the confidence of Asian Federation officials in Kuwait's capability to host a major sporting event. He also credited Minister Al-Mutairi and the acting Director of the Sports Authority for their instrumental support in securing the bid, extending his gratitude on behalf of Kuwait's handball community.
