MUSCAT: The Oman national handball team began its first phase of preparations on Tuesday ahead of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, which will take place in Kuwait from January 15 to 26, 2026, at Shaikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex in Sabah Al Salem City. The championship serves as a crucial qualifying gateway to the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany, where the top four teams from Asia will secure their spots.
Oman have been drawn in Group A, alongside defending champions Qatar and South Korea, in what promises to be one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
Training sessions kicked off at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, led by head coach Nabil bin Hassan al Balushi and assistant coach Ahmed bin Salem Ambusaidi, with 26 players called up for the initial training camp. The squad will later be reduced to the final list that will represent Oman in Kuwait.
The team’s preparation programme includes domestic and international training camps, as well as friendly matches designed to enhance physical readiness, tactical coordination and overall team chemistry, the coaching staff is counting on the players’ experience, discipline and fighting spirit to deliver a strong performance and reflect the steady progress of Omani handball at the continental level.
The preliminary squad includes Abdulhakim al Siyabi, Bashar al Hinai, Mohammed al Araimi, Sameeh al Azzan, Abdulaziz al Majrafi, Mohammed and Ahmed al Dighaishi, Mahmood al Wahibi, Said and Qais al Hasani, Issam al Balushi, Qusai al Battashi, Abdulaziz and Abdullah al Siyabi, Mohammed and Abdulmajid al Balushi, Al Azhar al Hadidi, Nawaf, Saud, Mohammed and Hamad al Hasani, Khalid al Jabri, Azan al Maashari, Muhannad al Zarafi, Waleed al Hinai, Omar al Dighaishi, and Hassan al Balushi.
Anwar al Balushi, Head of the Handball Department at the Oman Handball Association, emphasised the importance of this phase. “This preparation period is vital for laying the technical and mental foundations ahead of the Asian Championship. It gives the coaching staff a clear opportunity to assess player readiness and foster greater team cohesion. Our goal is to build a team capable of competing strongly and reaching the semifinals, reflecting the continuous growth of Oman handball.”
The Asian Championship will feature 15 teams divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The top four teams will directly qualify for the 2027 World Championship in Germany.
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