Junior handball team held by UAE in friendly opener

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain’s junior men’s national handball team began their preparations for the 19th Asian Men’s Junior Championship with a 35–35 draw against the hosts United Arab Emirates in a five-nation friendly tournament on Saturday.

The competition, which also features Qatar, Oman and Morocco alongside the hosts, is Bahrain’s final build-up ahead of next month’s continental championship in Chuzhou, China. A single round-robin format will see the top two teams advance to the final.

Bahrain trailed 21–17 at halftime after the UAE made the stronger start, capitalising on early attacking opportunities. Coach Hussam Madan’s side responded after the break, tightening their defence and improving their finishing to gradually close the gap and secure a draw in a tense finish.

The team, which travelled to the UAE on Friday, is using the tournament to fine-tune a 20-player squad that includes several members with senior national team experience.

They next face Oman before meeting Qatar in their final group-stage match.

The Asian Championship, scheduled for July 15 to 26, features 13 teams and doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s U21 World Championship in North Macedonia. Bahrain has been drawn in Group A alongside China, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

Bahrain enter the tournament with a strong recent record, reaching the podium in each of the last three editions, including silver in 2022 and bronze in 2018 and 2024.