Bahrain to host Asian men’s handball in 2024

TDT | Manama                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain was yesterday awarded the honour of hosting the continent’s leading senior men’s handball tournament early next year. The 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship will be taking place on the island from 14 to 25 January, featuring some of the biggest teams in the game.

This was announced yesterday by the Asian Handball Federation (AHF). It will be the fourth time the Kingdom will be staging the prestigious tournament, following past editions in 1993, 2014 and 2016.

The event will also act as the Asian qualifying tournament for the IHF World Men’s Handball Championship 2025, set to be co-hosted by Croatia, Denmark and Norway.

Bahrain have been top contenders in the continental competition over its past several editions, appearing on the podium as runners-up in five of the last seven tournaments, including in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022.

The Bahrainis have never won the Asian title, but claimed the silver medals the aforementioned five times as well as the bronze medals in 1995. In last year’s tournament held in Dammam/Qatif, Saudi Arabia, the nationals finished second behind only five-time reigning champions Qatar.

Meanwhile, the AHF also announced yesterday that the 26th Asian Men’s Club League Championship will be held in Kuwait from 17 to 27 November later this year.

The event will mark qualification for the 18th IHF Men’s Super Globe. National champions Al Najma, who are also the tournament’s defending champions, will be representing the Kingdom in the tournament.