Oman clubbed with Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Maldives
Asian Beach Handball
Published: 05:02 PM,Feb 24,2025 | EDITED : 09:02 PM,Feb 24,2025
The draw of 10th AHF Asian Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball championship in Muscat.
MUSCAT, FEB 24
Oman beach handball team is clubbed with Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Maldives in Group A at the 10th AHF Asian Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball championship which will be hosted in Muscat during May 1 to 10. Group is B comprised of Iran, Philippines, Jordan, Pakistan and India.
The draw ceremony took place at the headquarter of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) on Monday in the presence of Shaikh Dr Hamdan bin Subaa al Saadi, chief guest, Badar Dhiyab, Vice-President of the International Handball Federation (IHF), Moosa bin Khamis al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Handball Association (OHA), besides attendance of officials from IHF and Asian Handball Federation (AHF).
The women’s competition will feature only four teams in one group including: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Philippines and India. A total of nine teams will vie for the men’s title. For the women’s championship, teams will vie in a round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the 2026 Beach Handball World Cup. In the men’s event, the teams will play in a single-round league format in the first stage as the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The 2025 championship will act as a qualifier for the 12th IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championship which is staged for 2026. Top teams from the tournament will secure their spots.
Oman had hosted the Asian Beach Handball Championship in its inaugural edition in 2015 as Oman finished as runners-up behind champions Qatar. Oman had also hosted the Beach Handball World Cup in 2012 at Al Musannah Sports City.
LOGO UNVEILED
During the draw ceremony, Shaikh Dr Hamdan al Saadi accompanied by Moosa al Balushi, unveiled the official championship logo. The design of logo featured a beach handball player’s hand, incorporating colours that symbolise Oman’s beaches while blue representing the sea and sand tones blending into the ball to reflect the tournament’s coastal setting.
The OHA Chairman, thanked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for their support in organising the championship and emphasised AHF's key role as a partner in the event’s success. “The Asian Beach Handball Championship represents a major milestone in Oman’s ambition to bid for hosting the 2028 Beach Handball World Cup Finals. This year is a landmark moment for Oman’s handball as we will host three major events including: the 41st GCC Club Handball Championship which concluded on Monday, the third GCC Beach Games in April and it will be followed by the 10th Asian Beach Handball Championship. These events will strengthen Oman’s bid for future international handball events,” Al Balushi said.
ORGANISING CAPABILITIES
Bader Dhiyab appreciated the efforts of OHA to host a well-organised draw ceremony and expressed his confidence in Oman’s to deliver a successful tournament.
“The draw was balanced to all the teams as they will have equal opportunities to compete on the title. Beach handball performances fluctuate from one tournament to another but teams like Oman, Qatar, Iran and Jordan shown strong performances in previous editions,” Dhiyab added.
“We firmly believe that Oman will deliver an exceptional championship. The federation has extensive experience in hosting major events as they had hosted World Beach Handball and Asian Championships. I am confident in their ability to execute a top-tier event,” he ended.
Oman’s national team has a proud history in the competition having won seven medals across nine editions. This includes a gold medal in the inaugural 2004 championship and six silver medals, consistently placing the team among Asia’s top performers. Furthermore, Oman’s national beach handball team has a distinguished record as they had qualified for the 2024 Beach Handball World Cup in China.
The Oman beach handball team will begin preparations for the GCC Beach Handball Championship and the Asian Championship following the conclusion of the First Division League and Ministry’s Shield in March. Hamood al Hasani is the head coach assisted by Jaber bin Yaqoub al Balushi.
Oman beach handball team is clubbed with Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Maldives in Group A at the 10th AHF Asian Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball championship which will be hosted in Muscat during May 1 to 10. Group is B comprised of Iran, Philippines, Jordan, Pakistan and India.
The draw ceremony took place at the headquarter of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) on Monday in the presence of Shaikh Dr Hamdan bin Subaa al Saadi, chief guest, Badar Dhiyab, Vice-President of the International Handball Federation (IHF), Moosa bin Khamis al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Handball Association (OHA), besides attendance of officials from IHF and Asian Handball Federation (AHF).
The women’s competition will feature only four teams in one group including: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Philippines and India. A total of nine teams will vie for the men’s title. For the women’s championship, teams will vie in a round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the 2026 Beach Handball World Cup. In the men’s event, the teams will play in a single-round league format in the first stage as the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The 2025 championship will act as a qualifier for the 12th IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championship which is staged for 2026. Top teams from the tournament will secure their spots.
Oman had hosted the Asian Beach Handball Championship in its inaugural edition in 2015 as Oman finished as runners-up behind champions Qatar. Oman had also hosted the Beach Handball World Cup in 2012 at Al Musannah Sports City.
LOGO UNVEILED
During the draw ceremony, Shaikh Dr Hamdan al Saadi accompanied by Moosa al Balushi, unveiled the official championship logo. The design of logo featured a beach handball player’s hand, incorporating colours that symbolise Oman’s beaches while blue representing the sea and sand tones blending into the ball to reflect the tournament’s coastal setting.
The OHA Chairman, thanked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for their support in organising the championship and emphasised AHF's key role as a partner in the event’s success. “The Asian Beach Handball Championship represents a major milestone in Oman’s ambition to bid for hosting the 2028 Beach Handball World Cup Finals. This year is a landmark moment for Oman’s handball as we will host three major events including: the 41st GCC Club Handball Championship which concluded on Monday, the third GCC Beach Games in April and it will be followed by the 10th Asian Beach Handball Championship. These events will strengthen Oman’s bid for future international handball events,” Al Balushi said.
ORGANISING CAPABILITIES
Bader Dhiyab appreciated the efforts of OHA to host a well-organised draw ceremony and expressed his confidence in Oman’s to deliver a successful tournament.
“The draw was balanced to all the teams as they will have equal opportunities to compete on the title. Beach handball performances fluctuate from one tournament to another but teams like Oman, Qatar, Iran and Jordan shown strong performances in previous editions,” Dhiyab added.
“We firmly believe that Oman will deliver an exceptional championship. The federation has extensive experience in hosting major events as they had hosted World Beach Handball and Asian Championships. I am confident in their ability to execute a top-tier event,” he ended.
Oman’s national team has a proud history in the competition having won seven medals across nine editions. This includes a gold medal in the inaugural 2004 championship and six silver medals, consistently placing the team among Asia’s top performers. Furthermore, Oman’s national beach handball team has a distinguished record as they had qualified for the 2024 Beach Handball World Cup in China.
The Oman beach handball team will begin preparations for the GCC Beach Handball Championship and the Asian Championship following the conclusion of the First Division League and Ministry’s Shield in March. Hamood al Hasani is the head coach assisted by Jaber bin Yaqoub al Balushi.