After five finals lost between 2010 and 2022, Bahrain finally managed to secure their maiden title at the AHF Asian Men’s Handball Championship, after a dramatic final against Qatar, where Robert Hedin’s side squandered a three-goal lead in the last three minutes of the regular time, only to bounce back and secure a 29:26 win in overtime.

Bahrain had finished second in their main round group, after a 21:23 loss against Saudi Arabia, therefore had to meet the first-placed side in the other group, Japan, in the semi-finals.

After Japan had beaten Bahrain two years ago, in the same phase of the continental championship, Bahrain delivered a perfectly-pitched performance, dominating the semi-final against their rivals, 35:25, after Jasim Khamis scored 10 goals and Mohamed Naser Mohamed added eight more goals, to seal the sixth finals berth for Bahrain in the last nine editions.

The second semi-final was an even more interesting proposition, a true roller coaster, which saw title holders Qatar face off against hosts Kuwait. After 30 minutes, Kuwait, led by coach Aron Kristjansson, had a five-goal lead, 13:8, which grew to six goals immediately after the start of the second half.

But Qatar’s experience was enough to save them. Ahmad Madadi scored nine goals, while goalkeeper Ahmed Abdelrahem made some key saves, to help the team with six titles tie the score after 60 minutes, 22:22.

In the overtime, Qatar were stronger and Madadi scored two goals, Frankis Marzo, the top goal scorer of the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship, added two more goals, to help their side win, 27:26, and advance to the final.

 

The two sides had met four times in the final of the AHF Asian Men’s Handball Championship, with Qatar winning all matches, in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022, but this time it was different and Bahrain learnt from their previous experiences.

Bahrain started off strong, with a 9:6 lead, as centre back Husain Alsayyad scored three times. The back line carried the load and by half-time, Bahrain were still up ahead three goals, 14:11, as the lead grew even higher, 20:16, with 15 minutes to go, while Qatar failed to make any dent in Bahrain’s chances.

But sooner rather than later, the comeback came. With three minutes and 26 seconds left, Bahrain were still three goals up, 24:21, but Ahmed Abdelrahem made some key saves, Ahmad Madadi, Abdulrazzaq Murad and Nasreddine Megdich each scored a goal and the match was pushed into overtime, as the regular time finished with a 24:24 draw.

But there, Bahrain shone. Mohamed Naser Mohamed scored three times, Husain Alsayyad added one more, to take their tally to seven goals each, lifting Bahrain to a 29:26 win over Qatar, and sealing their maiden continental title.

It was Bahrain’s eighth medal in the competition, while Qatar secured their 11th medal, but saw their continental dominance in Asia snapped, after winning the titles in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.

 

In the bronze medal match, Kuwait sealed their 11th medal in the competition and their first since 2008, with a dramatic 33:32 win over Japan.

Kuwait’s Saif Aladwani was the top scorer of the competition, with 54 goals in eight matches, while Qatar’s Ahmad Madadi (44 goals) and Jordan’s Khaled Abu Hasan (43 goals) were on the podium of the top goal scorer standings.

The 2026 AHF Asian Men’s Handball Championship was also a qualification event for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship. The names of the four teams which secured their appearance were known since the semi-finals, with Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Japan sealing their places for the competition in Germany.

Credit photo: Kuwait Handball Association