The march of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) began when Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, head of the Kuwaiti delegation to the 7^th Asian Games held in 1974 in Tehran, Imperial State of Iran, presented a motion to the Executive Committee of the Asian Games Federation (AGF) requesting recognition of the handball game and also the formation of the Asian Handball Federation.

This historical motion was based on the fact that the handball game was widely played in Asia, and it was a demand of time that official and technical support for the game be enhanced in order to achieve its further development and expansion in the Asian region.

Accordingly, the Asian Games Federation, during its meeting on August 26, 1974, recognized handball as an official sport, the nineteenth sport at the time.

In view of these proceedings, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah took the initiative to invite delegation heads present in Tehran to a meeting for a formal discussion on the establishment of the Asian Handball Federation.

After debates and detailed discussions on the functions and activities of the federation, AHF’s establishment was simultaneously approved, and the board lines that were working on it were defined.

The meeting also elected Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (Kuwait) as interim president and Mr. Syed Abul Hassan (Pakistan) as interim secretary general of the Federation. Both officials were also given the responsibility of drafting the AHF’s statutes and by-laws.

Consequently, on January 8, 1976, representatives from 14 Asian countries, along with International Handball Federation (IHF) Secretary General Max Rinkenburger, attended the establishment meeting of the AHF. This meeting formally announced the establishment of the Asian Handball Federation, confirmed its statutes and by-laws, and thus, the first AHF Council was elected, and the AHF Executive Committee was formed. The State of Kuwait was chosen to be the AHF head office.

Since its establishment, AHF activities have been progressively expanding as its strategy has been focused on the development and expansion of the handball game on the Asian continent. AHF members have also been actively involved in the remarkable achievements along the way.