The draw for the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship unfolded with great anticipation on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the prestigious Hotel Le Méridien City Centre in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
The draw ceremony, commencing at 19:00 hours, was graced by distinguished personalities including Vice President of Bahrain Olympic Committee His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al-Khalifa, BOC Member Her Highness Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain General Sports Authority Dr. Abdul Rahman Sadiq Askar, AHF Treasurer Bader Mohammed Al-Theyab (Kuwait), Bahrain Handball Federation President and AHF Vice President Ali Mohamed Isa Eshaqi, AHF Technical Director Jasem Mohammed Al-Theyab (Kuwait), AHF Assistant Technical Director Abdullah Jasem Al-Theyab (Kuwait), and the representatives of the participating teams.
The 16 participating teams were divided into four groups, each consisting of four teams. Host nation Bahrain exercised their right to select their group, ultimately opting for Group D.
The defending champion, Qatar, found itself in Group A alongside Kuwait, Oman, and Chinese Taipei. Group B promises intense competition with the inclusion of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, and Oceania representative New Zealand.
Group C features Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India, and Japan, setting the stage for thrilling encounters. Host Bahrain, eager to showcase its prowess, opted for Group D, where they will contend with the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong (China), and Kazakhstan.
Draw Results:
Group A: Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Chinese Taipei
Group B: I. R. Iran, Republic of Korea, P. R. China, New Zealand
Group C: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India, Japan
Group D: Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong (China), Kazakhstan
The 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship is scheduled to take place from January 11–25, 2024, in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Beyond regional glory, this championship holds significant stakes as a qualification tournament for the 29th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship.
The top four teams emerging from this event will secure coveted spots in the 29th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship, slated to unfold in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway from January 9–27, 2025. Furthermore, there’s an exciting opportunity for New Zealand from Oceania, as they can earn a World Championship berth by finishing fifth or higher in this fiercely contested competition.
All the information about the competition is available on the competition mini-website.
