Hedin Names Bahrain’s Asiad Squad

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Golden generation target the one major title still missing

Bahrain have named their 16-player handball squad for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The nationals will be led by Swedish coach Robert Hedin as they look to win the men’s title for the first time.

Captain Hussain Al Sayyad, Mohammed Abdulhussain, Mohammed Habib Hasan, Mohammed Habib Al Nasser, Hassan Madan, Hisham Al Ustadh, Hassan Mirza and Ahmed Jalal have all been selected.

The squad also includes Jassim Khamis, Ahmed Kadhem, Ali Mahmood, Mohammed Hameed, Sayed Ali Shubber, Abdulla Abdulkarim, Salman Al Showaikh and Ahmed Eid.

Nine teams will contest the competition, which begins on Saturday and runs until September 29.

The Warriors have been drawn in Group B alongside South Korea, Kuwait, Iran and Kazakhstan. Hosts Japan, China, Hong Kong and three-time defending champions Qatar make up Group A.

Bahrain begin their campaign against Kazakhstan on Sunday at 6.30am, Bahrain time, before facing Iran the following day at 8.30am.

The nationals then take on South Korea on Wednesday at 11.30am before completing the preliminary round against Kuwait on Friday at 7.30am.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals on September 26. With only four sides in Group A, all are guaranteed a place in the knockout stage, while only the bottom team in Bahrain’s five-team group will be eliminated.

The semi-finals take place two days later, followed by the medal matches on September 29.

The kingdom enter the Games after winning three major titles in the space of seven months.

Their successful run began with gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh last November. Bahrain then claimed their maiden Asian Men’s Handball Championship crown in Kuwait in January before triumphing at the fourth GCC Games in Doha in May.

The Asian Games crown is the one major title still missing from the kingdom’s recent collection.

Bronze in 2014 was followed by silver medals in 2018 and 2022, leaving the reigning Asian champions aiming to go one better in Japan.

Preparations included a training camp in Egypt, where the squad played several friendly matches ahead of the continental showpiece.