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Observer
a day ago
- Sport
- Observer
Oman into the 2nd round of Beach Handball Championship
MUSCAT, JUNE 19 The Oman U-17 beach handball team advanced to the main round of the 2025 IHF Men's Junior Beach Handball World Championship following their impressive victory over Puerto Rico by 2-1 in their final group stage match late on Wednesday. The thrilling win took Oman junior stars in the second position of Group A behind the toppers Spain who led the group with two victories. The triumph meant, Oman earned their place among the top twelve teams of the tournament and now prepares to face European powerhouses including: Croatia, Germany and Hungary in the second round. The win against Puerto Rico revived debutant Oman hopes to continue in the competitions of the global event. Oman team players suffered to a 2-0 loss against Spain but they bounced back strongly and displayed composure and resilience in a tightly contested encounter. Oman took the first half and ended at 10-8 while Puerto Rico managed to end the second half by 18-16. The match was decided via a penalty shootout as Oman's goalie Louay al Sulaimani made a crucial save and Oman's star player Salim al Oraimi scored the decisive point to seal a 9-8 shootout win. With the winning result, Oman entered the main round carrying over their points from matches against Spain and Puerto Rico. In this stage and accordingly to playing format of the tournament, the top three teams from Group A will face the top three from Group B including: Germany, who ended as group topper, Croatia -finished in second place and Hungary who completed their group stage campaign in third place. Oman team will meet Croatia earlier on Friday and then they will face Germany while they will conclude their matches by an encounter against Hungary late in the same day. Oman assistant head coach Arif al Balushi expressed pride in the players' efforts and highlighted the importance of maintaining focus:' The win over Puerto Rico showed the team's character and ability to bounce back under pressure after the defeat against Spain in the opening game. We will face tough and elite European teams in the second phase of the tournament. The team players prepared well and are determined to compete with proper discipline and technique." He said 'The second round will be more challenging but our goal is to build on our momentum and secure a historic semifinal berth.' He ended This edition of the IHF Junior Beach Handball World Championship is the largest in history, featuring 32 nations across the globe. Oman's participation was made possible through a recommendation from the Asian Handball Federation, following their fourth-place finish at the Asian event held in Thailand.
Observer
3 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Oman colts start beach handball campaign today
MUSCAT, June 17 The Oman U-17 beach handball team is all set to make their official debut at the 2025 IHF Men's Junior Beach Handball World Championship on Wednesday as they will take on Spain and Puerto Rico in back-to-back Group A clashes in Hammamet, Tunisia. The draw clubbed Oman into a competitive group featured Iran, Spain, and Puerto Rico. The group was reduced to three teams following Iran's official withdrawal due to the current situation there. With the top three teams in the group advancing automatically to the next round, Oman's focus now shifts to securing a favorable seeding heading into the second phase of the tournament. Oman team, coached by Jaber al Balushi, will play against Spain, a title contender and gold medalist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, in a strong opener and it will be followed by a fixture against tournament newcomers Puerto Rico later in the same day. Oman head coach Jaber al Balushi affirmed that the team in best shape to begin their campaign in the World assignment. 'We are well-prepared to face the world's best in the opening game. Our recent friendly matches, especially the win against Tunisia, gave us confidence and helped us fine-tune our strategy beside the morale are very high of the players. We aim to put on a strong performance and secure momentum for the next round.' He said Oman played four warm-up matches in Tunisia as part of their build-up for the 2025 IHF Men's Junior Beach Handball World Championship. In the first preparatory match, the suffered to a 2-0 defeat against Senegal and another loss against Cook Islands by 2-0 and then narrowly defeated by Hungary (0-2). In the concluding match they raised their morale by a 2-1 victory over the hosts Tunisia. The final match, played at the main championship venue, allowed Oman to test their readiness under real competition conditions. Oman head coach Jaber al Balushi, Team Director Said al Hosni and administrative official Talib Afandi took part in the technical meeting held by the IHF where Oman's official kit, match schedule, and the amended group format following Iran's withdrawal were confirmed. The 2025 edition of the IHF Junior Beach Handball World Championship will feature 32 teams, marking the largest and most competitive edition to date. Oman's participation was made possible following a nomination from the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), after the team secured fourth place in the Asian Junior Beach Handball Championship in Thailand earlier this year and Qatar's withdraw from the event.
Observer
6 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Oman U-17 beach handball team camp in Tunis
MUSCAT: The Oman U-17 beach handball team are gearing up in the underway external camp in Tunisia ahead of the 25th IHF Men's Junior World Championship which will begin in Tunisia from Tuesday to next Sunday. Oman, making their debut on the world stage, will compete in Group A, alongside former champions and powerhouses including Iran (2017 champions and 2022 bronze medalists), Spain (2018 Youth Olympic gold medalists), and Puerto Rico. Players in action during the training camp Under the guidance of head coach Jaber al Balushi, the national squad is undergoing an intensive external training camp in Tunisia, featuring a series of friendly matches against elite international teams to boost their readiness for the prestigious global event. As part of their build-up, the Omani team had played against Senegal on Saturday night, followed by a match against Brazil on Sunday. On Monday, the team will play Mexico in the morning session and the host nation Tunisia in the evening session. These preparatory matches are intended to simulate real match conditions and provide valuable competitive exposure to the young squad ahead of the championship. Coach Jaber al Balushi guides the training camp in Tunis Oman earned their spot in this year's World Championship after receiving a nomination from the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), following Qatar's withdrawal from the tournament. Oman had previously secured fourth place in the Asian Junior Beach Handball Championship in Thailand while Qatar ended in third place. The national team had completed a rigorous two-month domestic training programme in Muscat before heading abroad to fine-tune their skills. The Omani delegation is determined to deliver a strong performance despite the challenges of debuting on such a grand stage. Oman's group stage campaign will open against Iran on June 17, followed by back-to-back fixtures against Spain and Puerto Rico on June 18.
Observer
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Competition heats up at Asian Beach Handball championship
MUSCAT: The quarters phase of the 10th Asian Men's and Women's Beach Handball Championship 2025 — qualifiers for the 2026 Beach Handball World Championship — will kick off on Monday at the sands court at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. A total of six matches will be played including two matches for the women's category. In today's matches, all the eight qualified teams will eye to secure slots in the semis which will take place on Tuesday while the final is scheduled on Thursday with one day rest in between. The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) decided to give the opportunity for all the teams to get the chance for moving into the second round of the tournament with this playing format. The first-placed team in Group A will play the fourth-positioned team in Group B. Similarly, for the other groups, the different teams will play against different ranking teams in the group order. In the women's competition, Philippines will meet Hong Kong, and the match will kick off at 6:00 pm and it will be followed by Vietnam and India match which will begin at 7:00 pm. Qualifiers for the 2026 Beach Handball World Championship — will kick off today at the sands court at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex THRILLING COMPETITION Salim al Saadi, Event Director, said that the group matches of the tournament featured strong competition. ' I believe the competitions will heats up as the event will move into the next round. I am expecting a thrilling games especially some of the teams will eye to go further in the event and secure slot to the IHF World Championship,' he added ' I would like to thank all the participating teams and delegations for their commitment and cooperation with the organizing committee to register the required success in this tournament. All the organizing committee members and volunteers are working very hard for an exceptional closing ceremony that will be remembered by all participating teams. The event will include various segments and honor government and private entities that contributed to the success of the tournament, along with awarding the top three teams in both the men's and women's categories,' he ended FOURTH PARTICIPATION FOR MAHER Oman's national team former player, Maher bin Saif al Dugheishi, a member of the Asian Beach Handball Committee, was selected by the technical committee to be as a match supervisor in this tournament. This is the his fourth participation for him in Asian beach handball tournaments as he had previously served as a supervisor in qualifiers held in Iran (2022), Bali, Indonesia (2023), and Bangkok, Thailand (2024). He is the only Omani nominated by the Asian Handball Federation for this supervisory role, a testament to their confidence in his capabilities. On the other hand, Oman's national team players including Asaad al Hasani and his teammate Said al Hasani are the most experienced players from the national team. Both players had represented Oman in several editions of the IHF World Championship and delivered strong performances in this tournament. Asaad typically plays as a utility player (joker) while Said is a core member of the starting lineup. Both players are among the key players for the national team head coach Hamood al Hasani who will rely on them in the forthcoming matches.
Arab Times
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait launches Arab Cup campaign with commanding win over Morocco
KUWAIT CITY, May 6: The 10th Arab Handball Cup, currently underway in Kuwait and running through the 11th of this month, opened to widespread praise from Arab federation heads and officials from the Asian Handball Federation. All commended the Supreme Organizing Committee and tournament working groups for their professionalism, reaffirming Kuwait's reputation and experience in hosting major sporting events. The host nation got off to a winning start in the group stage, defeating Morocco 39-29 in their opening match. Kuwaiti goalkeeper Hassan Safar was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance. In other first-round results, Bahrain edged Iraq 28-26, while Qatar defeated Saudi Arabia 31-22. Bader Al-Dhiyab, Vice President of the International Handball Federation, applauded Kuwait's long-standing excellence in organizing international tournaments. He expressed hope for a high level of play from all participating teams, who represent both Asia and Africa. 'The Asian Handball Federation fully supports Kuwait in hosting this Arab Championship,' Al-Dhiyab said, voicing confidence in Kuwait's youth to ensure the tournament's success. Dr. Ahmed Al-Obaidi, President of the Iraqi Handball Federation, said he was delighted to participate, especially since the event is being held in Kuwait, widely recognized for its top-tier event organization. He expressed hope for competitive matches that reflect the strength and unity of the Arab world. Bahrain Handball Federation President Ali Issa thanked the Kuwait Handball Federation for its excellent hosting efforts. 'This level of organization is no surprise from the people of Kuwait,' Issa remarked. He added that Bahrain confirmed participation as soon as Kuwait was announced as host. Qatar Handball Federation President Ahmed Al-Shaabi described the tournament as a 'valuable Arab gathering,' crediting Kuwait's hosting for the event's significance. 'Qatar's participation aims to contribute to the championship's success,' Al-Shaabi said, thanking both the Arab and Kuwaiti Handball Federations for reviving the tournament after years of absence. The championship officially opened two days ago at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex, with nine Arab teams participating. Held under the patronage of the Minister of Information, Culture, and State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, the opening ceremony featured laser displays by local youth groups and a welcome performance by artist Hamoud Al-Khadher. Bashar Abdullah, Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sports and representative of the tournament sponsor, emphasized the importance of bringing the Arab Championship back to Kuwait after a long hiatus. 'This event marks a milestone for Arab handball,' he said, wishing the teams success in presenting competitive, high-level matches. He also praised the organizing committee for the event's excellent coordination, which aligns with the Authority's strategy to host major sports events in Kuwait. President of the Saudi Handball Federation, Fadel Al-Nemer, extended his gratitude to Kuwait's political leadership, led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for hosting the tournament, a return to Kuwait 46 years after it first hosted the event. He Nemer commended Minister Al-Mutairi's support and the Kuwait Handball Federation's professional execution. He expressed joy at the tournament coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Arab Handball Federation's founding in 1975. He also reaffirmed the Federation's continued mission to organize tournaments for all categories to promote and develop the sport across the Arab world. Three decisive group stage matches are scheduled for today: 3:00 pm: Saudi Arabia vs. Tunisia
