Youth handball team begin Asian quest

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain begin their campaign at the 11th AHF Asian Men's Youth Handball Championship today when they take on India in Amman, Jordan.

The kingdom's U19 men face their Group A opponents at 6pm as they look to make a winning start to the continental tournament, which runs until August 31 and also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men's Youth Handball World Championship.

Bahrain are competing alongside South Korea, hosts Jordan, India and Uzbekistan in Group A, while Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and Syria make up Group B.

The Bahrainis face a quick turnaround after today's opener, with hosts Jordan awaiting them tomorrow at 8pm.

They then meet Uzbekistan on Sunday at noon before wrapping up their preliminary-round campaign against South Korea on August 26 at 4pm.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals on August 28, with the four semi-finalists securing qualification for next year's world championship.

Head coach Mohamed Abdulrahman Soliman has travelled to Jordan with a 16-player squad featuring Ali Adel, Sayed Mahmoud, Shubnar Jaafar Al Zain, Wadih Hilal, Ahmed Abdulla, Mohammed Al Marzooq, Sayed Ali Bashar, Mahmood Ali, Issa Al Babour, Hassan Saif, Hussain Qassim, Sayed Omran Almuhafdha, Mahdi Jaafar, Sayed Majeed Almuhafdha, Ali Almahroos and Ali Abdulelah.

The tournament marks Bahrain's 10th appearance at the Asian youth championship, where they have established a strong record over the years.

They lifted consecutive Asian titles in 2016 and 2018 and also secured bronze in 2010, while finishing inside the top five in each of their other six appearances.

With four places at next year's world championship on offer, Soliman's side will be aiming to continue that record and launch their campaign with a positive result today.