Bahrain take on Brazil in international handball friendly

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s senior men’s national handball team take on their counterparts from Brazil today in an international friendly match in France. The game is part of a tournament in the city of Nantes featuring national teams from across the globe.

The Bahrainis will also be playing Tunisia on Saturday. Bahrain are using the fixtures as part of their Bahrainis’ preparations for the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship, which is set to be hosted by the Kingdom from 11 to 25 January.

There are 22 players on the Kingdom’s team gearing up for the continental showcase, which also acts as a qualifier for 2025 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship.

The roster includes Mohammed Abdulhussain, Mohammed Mirza, Ali Mirza, Mohammed Habib Ahmed, Mohammed Habib Nasser, Mujtaba Al Zaimour, Ali Eid, Hassan Shahab, Hassan Al Samaheeji, Mohammed Hameed, Hesham Issa, Qassim Qambar, Mohammed Abdulredha, Ahmed Redha, Ahmed Jalal, Abdulla Al Zaimour, Hassan Madan, Ahmed Almaqabi, Adel Mohammed, Hassan Mirza, Jassim Khamis and Ali Al Ashiri.

Inspirational captain and international star Hussain Al Sayyad has not joined the team in France due to injury, but is expected to be ready for the Asian championship.

The players continued their preparations yesterday for today’s friendly, putting in some fitness work in the gym before taking to the playing court for training under head coach Aron Kristjansson.

A total of 16 nations are competing in the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship, with the top five on the final classification securing places at the worlds.

Bahrain are in Group D for the preliminary round along with Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and the UAE. Group A features defending champions Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Chinese Taipei.

Group B includes Iran, South Korea, China and New Zealand; and Group C is composed of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India and Japan.