Bahrain set to host Gulf clubs handball

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain is set to host the 39th edition of the Gulf Clubs Men’s Handball Championship next month, with two local representatives taking part.

The tournament is scheduled to be held from 8 to 17 March. Matches are set to take place at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

The competition is set to feature eight teams in all, with reigning national champions and defending Gulf champions Al Najma flying the Kingdom’s flag alongside fellow Bahrain handball giants Al Ahli.

The two home sides are set to be joined by teams from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar in the tournament.

Najma have been drawn in Group A for the preliminary round alongside Al Arabi of Qatar, Al Salmiya of Kuwait and Al Ahli Sidab of Oman.

Meanwhile, Group B features Bahrain’s Ahli, Kuwait SC of Kuwait, Sharjah of the UAE and Al Safa of Saudi.

The draw was held in Bahrain with representatives from the participating clubs on hand.

Both Najma and Ahli are to bolster their line-ups for the Gulf competition.

Najma have already signed top Bahraini players Mohammed Habib, Qassim Qambar and Qassim Al Shuwaikh to strengthen their already stacked roster of local stars.

They have also signed Egypt national team standouts Hassan Kaddah and Ahmed Alahmer. Ahli, on the other hand, are expected to strike a deal with Egyptian national team goalkeeper Karim Handawy and a number of other players.

Najma won last year’s Gulf handball title following a resounding 39-24 victory over Saudi outfit Mudhar in the final of the tournament, which was hosted by Kuwait.

It was the sixth time the Bahraini side claimed the coveted championship.

Their triumph also ended a two-decade title drought, as their previous victories came in 2001, 1998, 1990, 1985 and 1984.

Najma had also won the competition’s silver medals thrice in 2006, 2004 and 1999; while taking bronze twice in 2003 and 1982.

Prior to the Gulf clubs event, both Najma and Ahli are set to feature in the Golden square semi-finals of the 2022/2023 Khalid bin Hamad Bahrain Handball League.

Najma are set to take on Al Ettifaq in a best-ofthree series as they gun for their fourth successive league title, while Ahli face off with Al Shabab in the other final four match-up.