Handball team set for Egypt camp

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s senior men’s handball team are set to head to Egypt for an overseas training camp as they step up preparations for next month’s 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The camp will form an important part of the kingdom’s build-up under Swedish head coach Robert Hedin, with the continental showpiece scheduled to run from September 19 to October 4.

The men’s handball competition will be contested from September 20 to 29, with Bahrain looking to capture Asian Games gold for the first time.

They have been handed a challenging preliminary-round draw in Group B alongside South Korea, Kuwait, Iran and Kazakhstan, while Group A features hosts Japan, China, Hong Kong and two-time defending champions Qatar.

Bahrain will travel to Japan as reigning Asian champions following a hugely successful period under Hedin.

They captured their maiden Asian Men’s Handball Championship crown in Kuwait in January, adding another major title after winning gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh last November.

The Bahrainis continued their impressive run by claiming the handball title at the fourth GCC Games in Doha in May, giving them three major gold medals in the space of seven months.

Their attention now turns towards ending their wait for the top step of the Asian Games podium.

Bahrain have won medals at each of the past three editions, taking bronze in 2014 before finishing as runners-up in both 2018 and 2022.

They will therefore arrive in Japan aiming to go one better and add Asian Games gold to their growing collection of continental and regional honours.

The tournament will also provide another major test ahead of the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship, which will be held in Germany from January 13 to 31 next year.

Bahrain are one of 32 teams set to compete at the global showpiece and have been drawn in preliminary Group H alongside Iceland, North Macedonia and Japan.