5 days ago
Bahrain Hold Nerve in Tunisian Thriller
Bahrain and Tunisia traded blows in a contest that never allowed either side much breathing room. A nail-biting 29–29 draw keeps Bahrain unbeaten in the President's Cup and sends them into the placement semi-finals, chasing 17th place in Egypt. Tunisia, sharper early, carved out a five-goal cushion before Bahrain's resilience kicked in.
By halftime the deficit was just one at 16–15, and the final quarter saw the Gulf side press hard, drawing level in the dying minutes. A 7/13 haul from Mahmood Yusuf, alongside the sharp finishing of Salman Alshowaikh, proved vital in clawing back from the brink. Both men stood out, delivering decisive goals at crucial moments and embodying the fight that earned Bahrain a valuable point.
Tunisia lead Group IV with 5 points, followed closely by Bahrain also on 5 points. South Korea and the USA remain without points in the group.
Unbeaten in Cairo
This draw extends Bahrain's unbeaten run in the President's Cup to three games — counting their carried-over preliminary win against South Korea and Monday's 39–33 victory over the USA. That USA match saw Bahrain build a double-digit lead by halftime and hold off a second-half surge, with Ahmed Eid and Abbas Ali leading the scoring. The result against Tunisia seals their place in the 17th–20th placement semi-finals, where they will look to finish among the top classification spots.
Lessons from the Group Stage
The President's Cup berth is the consequence of a group-stage campaign where Bahrain couldn't crack the main round, falling to Egypt and Japan. They salvaged pride with a win over South Korea but still slipped into the classification bracket. Now, with the shackles off, their handball is more expressive, their offense balanced, and their defensive grit growing match by match.
Youth Worlds Legacy
This is Bahrain's sixth appearance at the IHF Men's Youth World Championship. The tournament, running through next Sunday, has been their proving ground for a new wave of talent. While the medal race is out of reach, the President's Cup still offers a tangible goal — finishing in the top 20 and leaving Egypt with momentum for future campaigns.
