The 26th Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship came to a riveting close today at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Covered Halls Complex in Sabah Al-Salem, Kuwait. Khaleej Club (Saudi Arabia) secured the title in a nail-biting final, triumphing over Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) with a scoreline of 35-33 in the second extra time.
This championship, which saw the participation of 11 clubs from 8 countries, aimed not only to crown the Asian champion but also to grant the sole ticket to qualify for the prestigious 17th IHF Men’s Super Globe scheduled for 2024.
Khaleej Club (Saudi Arabia) demonstrated exceptional prowess in Group A, securing a perfect 8 points in the preliminary stage. In a fiercely contested battle for the second spot in Group A, Al-Kuwait SC (Kuwait) edged ahead based on a superior goal difference, earning a ticket to the semifinals. Al-Najma Club (Bahrain) secured the third position, while Al-Gharafa SC (Qatar) finished fourth. Golden Eagles Bharat (India) struggled to secure a win and finished at the bottom of the group with a goal difference of -90.
Group B showcased a tight competition for the coveted semifinal spots, with host Qadsia SC (Kuwait), Al-Arabi SC (Qatar), and Sharjah SC (United Arab Emirates) all amassing 8 points with 4 wins and 1 loss each. Al-Arabi SC claimed the top spot, and Qadsia SC secured the second position due to a favourable goal difference. Sharjah SC finished third in the group. Al-Jaish SC (Iraq) claimed the fourth spot in Group B with 2 wins, while Shabab Haret Saida (Lebanon) and Sports Authority of India (India) secured fifth and last place, respectively, with goal differences of -26 and -111.
The semifinals witnessed intense battles, with Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) narrowly defeating Al-Kuwait SC (Kuwait) in the 1st extra time (31-30), while Khaleej Club (Saudi Arabia) clinched victory against host Qadsia SC (Kuwait) with a scoreline of 30-29.
On the final day, in the bronze medal match, host Qadsia SC (Kuwait) secured a hard-fought victory against Al-Kuwait SC (Kuwait) with a final score of 32-31.
The grand finale between Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) and Khaleej Club (Saudi Arabia) unfolded with dramatic twists and turns. After a 27-27 draw in full time and a 30-30 tie in the first extra time, Khaleej Club (Saudi Arabia) emerged triumphant in the second extra time with a final score of 35-33.
Mujtaba Al-Salem, with 8 goals, and Hussain Al-Sayyad, with 7 goals, played pivotal roles in Khaleej Club’s historic victory.
For the Khaleej Club, this marks their first-ever medal and gold in the Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship. This triumph also brings the gold back to a Saudi club after 7 years, following Al-Noor Club’s victory in the 2016 edition in Amman, Jordan. Furthermore, Khaleej Club’s victory secures their qualification for the 17th IHF Men’s Super Globe in 2024.
For more information, including the match results and reports, visit the competition mini-website here.
