Bahrainis win second handball friendly against Iraq

TDT | Manama                                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s senior men’s national handball team won 38-31 their friendly match against Iraq, played at the Bahrain Handball Association arena in Um Al Hassam.

It was the second straight tune-up between the two sides and the Barhainis’ second successive win.

The nationals had earlier taken the opening fixture 34-27 as they stepped up their preparations for the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship.

The continental tournament is set to be hosted by Bahrain from 11 to 25 January next year.

The nationals are next expected to play Morocco in another warm-up game here before they travel to Nantes in France for an international friendly tournament from 4 to 6 January that also features Brazil and Tunisia.

The 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship also acts as a qualifier for 2025 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship.

There are a total of 16 nations in the competition, with the top four securing places at the worlds.

Bahrain are in Group D along with the UAE, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan for the preliminary round.

The tournament is being hosted by Bahrain for the fourth time in its history, adding to the 2016, 2014 and 1993 events.

The Bahrainis have never won the title, but have claimed the silver medals five times in the past and also won the bronze medal once.