The preliminary round of the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship concluded today, marking an exciting phase in this prestigious sporting event. The tournament, which commenced on January 11 and extends until January 25, is being held across two venues in Bahrain – the Sheikh Khalifa Sports City Hall in Isa Town and the Bahrain Handball Federation Hall in Manama.
In Group A, defending champion Qatar showcased dominance, securing the first position by defeating Kuwait, Oman, and Chinese Taipei. Kuwait, with only one loss against Qatar, claimed the second spot, while Chinese Taipei and Oman secured the third and fourth positions, respectively.
Group B witnessed the Republic of Korea’s commanding performance, securing the top spot after defeating I. R. Iran, P. R. China, and New Zealand. I. R. Iran claimed the second position with a lone loss against the Republic of Korea, while P. R. China and New Zealand settled for the third and fourth places.
Group C unfolded as a surprise with Iraq’s outstanding performance. Japan clinched the top spot, having secured two wins against Saudi Arabia and India, and a draw against Iraq. Iraq, with two draws and a convincing win over India, secured the second position, leaving Saudi Arabia in third place and India in fourth with no wins.
In Group D, host Bahrain displayed dominance by defeating United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong-China, and Kazakhstan, securing the top position. United Arab Emirates claimed the second spot, with Kazakhstan and Hong Kong-China finishing in the third and fourth places, respectively.
As the preliminary round concluded, the main round groups were determined as follows:
Group 1: Qatar, I. R. Iran, Japan, United Arab Emirates
Group 2: Kuwait, Republic of Korea, Iraq, Bahrain
The main round matches for Group 1 and Group 2 will be held at the Sheikh Khalifa Sports City Hall in Isa Town.
The Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cup groups are outlined as follows:
Group 3: Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong-China
Group 4: Oman, P. R. China, India, Kazakhstan
All Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cup matches are scheduled to take place at the Bahrain Handball Federation Hall in Manama.
The updated match schedule for both the main round and Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cup is available on the official competition mini-website.
Looking ahead, the top two teams from main round Group 1 and 2 will vie for a place in the semifinals on January 23, with the added incentive of qualifying for the 29th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship slated for Croatia, Denmark, and Norway from January 14 to February 2, 2025. The final and bronze medal match are scheduled for January 25, promising an exhilarating conclusion to this exceptional championship.
For more information and updates, please visit Competition Mini-Website.
