Japan has won the Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship for the first time in history, defeating defending champions Republic of Korea in the final. The 10th edition of the championship took place from 3 to 14 September 2024, at Princess Sumaya Hall in Amman, Jordan. The competition featured 13 teams from across Asia, drawn into four groups. Groups A, B, and C comprised three teams each, while Group D included four teams.
The top two teams from each group advanced to the main round, while the third and fourth-placed teams competed in the Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cup to determine their final rankings. Republic of Korea and Bahrain from Group A, Japan and Jordan from Group B, Saudi Arabia and Qatar from Group C, and Kuwait and I. R. Iran from Group D advanced to the main round.
Iraq, India, United Arab Emirates, Chinese Taipei, and P. R. China participated in the Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cup, with Chinese Taipei emerging victorious, having won all four of its matches against its opponents.
In the main round, Saudi Arabia and Republic of Korea from Group I, and Kuwait and Japan from Group II advanced to the semifinals. By securing semifinal berths, these four teams also qualified for the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth (U19) Handball World Championship.
In the 5th-6th place match, Bahrain claimed the final available World Championship spot by defeating I. R. Iran in the first extra time with a score of 45-39. In the bronze medal match, Kuwait triumphed over Saudi Arabia with a 30-26 victory, marking their return to the podium after 16 years. Kuwait’s last podium finish was a gold medal win in 2008, also in Amman.
In the final, Japan defeated defending champions Republic of Korea 26-24, clinching their first gold medal in the history of the championship.
The closing ceremony was graced by the presence of the following distinguished guests and officials from the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), Jordan Handball Federation (JHF) and the Qatar Handball Association (QHA):
- AHF Finance Director and IHF Council Member Bader Mohammed Al-Theyab (Kuwait)
- AHF Vice President Prof. Dr. Sari Hamdan Ghanima (Jordan)
- AHF Vice President and QHA President Ahmed Mohammed Al-Shaabi
- AHF Executive Director Dr. Ahmad Abu Al-Lail (Kuwait)
- JHF President Prof. Dr. Taiysir Mansi
With this victory, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have qualified for the 11th IHF Men’s Youth (U19) Handball World Championship, to be held in Egypt from 6 to 17 August 2025.
For match results and reports, please click here.
