Oman Falls to Qatar in Opening Match of Asian Men’s Handball Championship

Oman Eyes Recovery Against South Korea After Opening Loss to Qatar

Kuwait: The Oman national handball team began its participation in the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, which qualifies teams for the 2027 World Cup finals in Germany, with a loss to defending champions Qatar by 27–15, in the match held this evening at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex in Kuwait, as part of the first round of Group A competitions. The tournament runs from 15 to 29 January.

Oman entered the match aiming for a positive result despite the strength and extensive continental and international experience of the Qatari team. The national side started the match with a lineup comprising Bashar Al-Hinai, Hamad Al-Daghishi, Hussein Al-Balushi, Azzan Al-Maashari, Mohammed Al-Hasani, Taha Al-Hadidi, and Mahmoud Al-Wahibi.

The opening minutes saw Oman attempting to keep pace with Qatar, with Mahmoud Al-Wahibi scoring the first goal of the match. Qatar quickly equalized and then took the lead, gradually widening the gap by capitalizing on their experience and technical superiority. Hamad Al-Daghishi scored Oman’s second and third goals, while Taha Al-Hadidi added the fifth goal in the 22nd minute. The first half ended with Qatar leading 12–6.

In the second half, the Omani technical staff, led by head coach Nabil Al-Balushi and his assistant Ahmed Ambusaidi, made several lineup changes in an effort to reduce the goal difference after assessing Qatar’s playing style. Although Oman showed improvement in performance, Qatar maintained control of the match, benefiting from missed opportunities and shooting errors by the Omani side. The match concluded with a 27–15 victory for Qatar.

Oman is set to play its second group match against South Korea on 18 January, in a crucial encounter that will significantly influence its chances of advancing to the main round. The technical staff is currently preparing a tactical plan tailored to the South Korean team’s style of play.

The championship officially kicked off with an opening ceremony attended by several sports officials, led by Bashar Abdullah, Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sport, and Bader Al-Dhiyab, President of the Asian Handball Federation, alongside representatives of participating teams, Faisal Baqer, Secretary of the Asian Federation, and Shabeeb Al-Hajri, Acting President of the Handball Federation.

In his address, the Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sport affirmed that Kuwait’s hosting of the tournament reflects its organizational capabilities and established status in staging major continental events. He noted that preparations were carried out according to a comprehensive plan covering venue readiness, delegation arrangements, and media and logistical requirements. For his part, the President of the Asian Handball Federation commended the efforts of the organizing committee, emphasizing that the championship provides an important platform for talent development and raising the technical level of handball across Asia.

The tournament continues tomorrow, Saturday, with four matches: Australia vs Iran, India vs the UAE, Hong Kong vs Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia vs Japan, as competition intensifies to determine the teams closest to qualifying for the main round.

The tournament’s technical committee also decided to conduct doping tests on participating players, with random selections from each team after matches, in accordance with approved international regulations, to promote integrity, fair play, and equal competition.