MUSCAT, 15 DEC
The Omani national indoor handball team will play an international friendly match today, Tuesday, against the United Arab Emirates national team in Dibba Al Hisn, Sharjah, the two sides will meet again tomorrow, Wednesday, as part of a short external training camp running from 15 to 18 December.
The team arrived in Sharjah yesterday as part of its preparations for the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, scheduled to be held in the State of Kuwait from January 15 - 29, 2026, the tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship, which will take place in Germany.
Oman has been drawn into Group A, alongside Asian champions Qatar and South Korea, in what is considered one of the strongest groups in the tournament.
Following the conclusion of the Sharjah camp, the national team will resume its daily training sessions at the main indoor hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, holding morning and evening sessions under the supervision of head coach Nabil al Balushi and assistant coach Ahmed Ambusaidi, In early January, the team will play two additional friendly matches between January 2 and 4, facing the UAE and Guinea at the same venue.
The current squad includes 22 players, as part of the technical staff’s ongoing evaluation process ahead of the final selection for the championship.
Head coach Nabil al Balushi stated that the preparation programme is progressing according to plan, emphasising that the friendly matches against the UAE come at an ideal time to assess the players’ physical and technical levels, as well as team cohesion, noted that the focus is currently on improving fitness and strengthening all departments of the team, while fully acknowledging the strength of their group rivals, particularly Qatar and South Korea, added that the squad combines experience with youth, and that these friendly matches will play a key role in determining the final lineup for the Asian Championship.
Oman will open its Asian Championship campaign with a high profile clash against Qatar on Friday, January 16, 2026, followed by a second match against South Korea on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each of the four preliminary groups will advance to the final round, forming eight qualified teams divided into two groups, Final standings will determine the teams that secure qualification spots for the 2027 World Championship.
The official draw placed the 15 participating teams into four groups: Group B includes Bahrain, Iraq, China, and Jordan; Group C features host nation Kuwait alongside the UAE, Hong Kong, and India; while Group D consists of Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
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