Bahrain edge Saudi in beach handball thriller

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s national beach handball team marked their comeback in style with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia at the 2nd Gulf Beach Games in Al-Mirfa, UAE. The match, filled with momentum swings and grit, ended with Bahrain securing the opening win in Group A.

This fixture held extra weight—Bahrain had not competed officially in beach handball since the 2016 World Cup, making the win all the more symbolic.The clash was witnessed by prominent officials, including Bahrain Olympic Committee Secretary-General Faris Mustafa Al-Kooheji, board member Fajer Jassim, delegation head Maryam Merdanah, and Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Secretary-General Abdulaziz Baashen.

Assistant coach Jaafar Abbas praised the team’s determination, highlighting both their inexperience and hunger."Since this is the first match, there is a lot of uncertainty for the opponents. As a team, everyone knows that Bahrain was the last team to participate in the World Cup in 2016. We are talking about eight years of suspension for this game."

He went on, "Our team is new—30% are former players and 70% are new. Some of those returning have been away from the game for 8 or 9 years. But we always rely on the Bahraini player—he’s a fighter who doesn’t like to lose."

Despite preparing for only three weeks during Ramadan, Bahrain delivered a gutsy performance.“The Saudi team was not easy. They were well-organized, but the simple parts made the difference,” Abbas explained. “Congratulations to our players and to Bahrain.” He also took a moment to commend the opponents: “Congratulations to our brothers in the Saudi team who played a great game. They have more to show, and we’ll see more from them.”

Eyes on the Next Battle

With victory secured, Bahrain’s focus has already shifted. “We were happy for three to four minutes,” Abbas said. “We always think about the second match, which will be tomorrow evening. Hopefully, the level will be better. We promise every- one that we will give our best. The players are fighters with a very high spirit. InshAllah, we will succeed.”

Bahrain’s beach handball campaign is back—and with this blend of heart and hunger, the journey ahead looks promising.