Najma, Ahli step up preparations for Gulf clubs handball
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
The Al Najma and Al Ahli senior men’s handball teams have stepped up their preparations for the 39th Gulf Clubs Men’s Handball Championship.
The tournament is set to be hosted by the Kingdom from 8 to 17 March, with the two national clubs flying Bahrain’s flag.
Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa visited the training sessions of the squads.
HH Shaikh Isa was accompanied on his visits by Bahrain Handball Association president and BOC member Ali Isa.
At Najma, they were received by club president Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and a number of the club’s board members, while at Ahli, welcoming them were club president Khaled Ebrahim Kanoo.
BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji was also on hand. Matches in the tournament are set to take place at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
The competition is set to feature eight teams in all, with Najma being the defending champions.
The two Bahraini 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.
Group B features Bahrain’s Ahli, Kuwait SC of Kuwait, Sharjah of the UAE and Al Safa of Saudi.
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.
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