Handball team set for Egypt camp

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain's senior men's handball team will head to Egypt today for an overseas training camp as they step up preparations for this 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 a number of friendly matches against Egypt included in the programme.

The continental showpiece runs from September 19 to October 4, while the men's handball competition will be contested from September 20 to 29.

Nine teams have been divided into two pools for the preliminary round, with Bahrain drawn in a challenging Group B alongside South Korea, Kuwait, Iran and Kazakhstan.

Group A features hosts Japan, China, Hong Kong and two-time defending champions Qatar.

The nationals will travel to Japan as reigning Asian champions following a highly 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.

Their impressive run continued with the handball title at the fourth GCC Games in Doha in May, giving them three major gold medals in the space of seven months.

Attention now turns towards ending their wait for the top step of the Asian Games podium, having medalled at each of the past three editions.

Bahrain took bronze in 2014 before finishing as runners-up in both 2018 and 2022, and will arrive in Japan looking to go one better.

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.

Hedin's side 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.