The Qatar handball team defeated Japan to win the 21st Asian Men’s Championship for a sixth time in Bahrain on Thursday. Qatar won the final 30-24, while Bahrain finished overall third after beating Kuwait 26-17. Qatar’s had previously won the Asian title in the past five editions in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. Qatar made a strong start in the final finishing the first half at 17-11, before continuing their superiority in the second half to clinch victory and the title. Qatar had earlier qualified for the 2025 World Championship to be jointly staged by in Croatia, Denmark and Norway. The Al Annabi have qualified for the World Championship for a tenth time after their previous appearances at Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, Egypt 2021, and Poland and Sweden 2023. Finishing as the runners-up at the 2015 Worlds as hosts has been Qatar’s best result so far. Japan, Kuwait and Bahrain, along with Qatar, have also qualified for the 2025 World Championships.
January 25, 2024 | 11:55 PM