Bahrain’s Warriors Conquer Asia

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

In a moment destined to live forever in Bahraini sport, the national men’s handball team captured their first-ever Asian Championship, defeating defending champions Qatar 29– 26 in extra time in Kuwait City. After years of dedication and ambition, this generation etched their names into the nation’s sporting history with a performance of rare quality. Head coach Robert Hedin, whose impact since his appointment in 2025 has been transformative, guided the team masterfully throughout the tournament. His players entered the final with confidence, having lost only one game up till this point and already defeated Qatar in the preliminary round.

Yesterday’s final began at a blistering pace. Captain Hussain AlSayyad opened the scoring at 01:34, quickly matched by Qatar’s Rafael Capote. AlSayyad struck again at 02:46, followed by Jasim Khamis at 03:33. Qatar’s Ahmad Madadi and Ahmed Kadhem kept the game close, but AlSayyad, ever the leader, scored once more at 08:16. Mohammed Habib Nasser, the tournament’s Best Playmaker, then exploited a gap with a precise feed from Ali AlAsheeri, firing past the keeper to give Bahrain a 14–11 halftime lead. Goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulhussain, a fortress throughout the campaign, frustrated the Qataris with crucial saves, stopping 13 of 39 shots.

The second half saw Danijel Saric’s side rally. Waeel Mzoughi scored early to narrow the gap, and Madadi’s goal leveled the score at 13–13. AlShowaikh responded at 05:40, Khamis at 06:56, keeping Bahrain ahead. Both sides traded goals over the next 20 minutes, with Hasan Madan and AlSayyad contributing important strikes. Abdulhussain repeatedly denied fast breaks and seven-metre attempts, while Qatar’s men kept the contest tight, and sent the match into extra time at 24–24. The extra period was a tense spectacle. Salman AlShowaikh broke through from the wing, assisted by AlSayyad, to put Bahrain ahead 25–24. In the eighth minute, Bahrain led 26–24 when Abdulhussain produced another seven-metre save. Moments later, a fast break following Abdulrazzaq Murad’s two-minute suspension extended Bahrain’s lead. As celebrations began, AlShowaikh converted a flawless seven-metre throw, and Madan bullied his way past Qatar’s defense to make it 28–25. Abdulhussain denied another seven-metre attempt at 29–25, prompting a joyous eruption from his teammates as the win became inevitable.

Bahrain held on to secure a 29–26 victory, with AlSayyad visibly emotional at the final whistle as he celebrated with the traveling fans. Earlier in the day, hosts Kuwait claimed the bronze medal after a 33–32 win over Japan, but it was Bahrain who stole the show. The title-win reflected both collective effort and individual brilliance: Hussain AlSayyad and Mohammed Habib Nasser each scored 7 apiece, Jassim Khamis 6, and Salman AlShowaikh 6. With this historic win, Bahrain now turns its focus to the 2027 World Championship in Germany, joining Qatar, Kuwait, and Japan among Asia’s handball elite.