The 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship concluded successfully in the State of Kuwait, following fifteen days of high-level competition held from 15 to 29 January 2026. The championship was organized at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Covered Halls Complex, Sabah Al-Salem, and the Kuwait Handball Association Hall, Al-Daiya, marking the fourth occasion that the prestigious continental competition was hosted by the Kuwait Handball Association (KHA) .
The competition also served as the Asian qualification event for the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship, scheduled to be held in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027.
In Group A, the Republic of Korea topped the standings after defeating Oman 29–24 and edging defending champions Qatar 32–31 in a closely contested encounter. Qatar finished second in the group following a 27–15 victory over Oman, while Oman concluded the group stage in third place.
Group B saw Bahrain dominate with three consecutive wins, defeating Jordan 32–21, Iraq 34–18, and P.R. China 40–29. Iraq secured second place in the group after wins against China and Jordan, while China and Jordan finished third and fourth respectively.
Group C was led by host nation Kuwait, who recorded emphatic victories including a 46–12 win over India and a 39–25 win against Hong Kong–China, before defeating the United Arab Emirates 27–22 to finish unbeaten. The United Arab Emirates placed second in the group with wins over Hong Kong–China and India, while Hong Kong–China finished third and India fourth.
In Group D, Saudi Arabia emerged as group winners after defeating Iran 24–22, Japan 27–24, and Australia 42–24. Japan secured second place following wins against Australia and Iran, while Iran and Australia completed the group standings.
Following the preliminary phase, teams progressed to the main round and placement matches, where competition intensified. In the main round, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain emerged as the strongest contenders. Japan drew 23–23 with the Republic of Korea and later defeated Kuwait 28–27, while Kuwait responded with a 31–27 victory over Korea. In the parallel main round group, Qatar defeated Saudi Arabia 32–25 and the United Arab Emirates 25–20, while Bahrain overcame the United Arab Emirates 32–20 and lost to Saudi Arabia 23–21 but secured their place in the semi-finals despite the loss.
The semifinals, played on 27 January 2026, saw Bahrain defeat Japan 35–25, while Qatar narrowly overcame Kuwait 27–26 in the 1st extra-time in a thrilling encounter. In the bronze medal match, Kuwait defeated Japan 33–32 to secure third place. The gold medal match, held on 29 January 2026, witnessed Bahrain deliver a composed and powerful performance to defeat Qatar 29–26, in the 1st extra-time, claiming the Asian championship title for the first time.
The championship concluded with Bahrain finishing first, followed by Qatar, Kuwait, and Japan in the final standings. These four teams qualified for the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship 2027 in Germany.
Final Ranking
1st – Bahrain *
2nd – Qatar *
3rd – Kuwait *
4th – Japan *
5th – Republic of Korea
6th – Saudi Arabia
7th – Iraq
8th – United Arab Emirates
9th – P. R. China
10th – Hong Kong-China
11th – Jordan
12th – I. R. Iran
13th – Oman
14th – Australia
15th – India
All-Star Team
Right Back: Jin Watanabe (JPN)
Left Back: Saif Al-Adwani (KUW)
Center Back: Mohamed Naser Mohamed (BRN)
Right Wing: Salman Al-Showaikh (BRN)
Left Wing: Ahmad Madadi (QAT)
Pivot: Soya Ichihara (JPN)
Goalkeeper: Ahmed Abdelrahem (QAT)
MVP: Hasan Safar (KUW)
Top Goalscorer: Saif Al-Adwani (KUW) (54 Goals)
The Asian Handball Federation congratulates Bahrain on their outstanding achievement and commends all participating teams for their competitive spirit and sportsmanship. The AHF also expresses its sincere appreciation to the Kuwait Handball Association, the Local Organizing Committee, officials, volunteers, and partners for delivering a championship of the highest organizational and technical standards.