Qatar handball team open Asian Championship campaign against Oman

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January 15, 2026
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15-January-2026

Qatar handball team open Asian Championship campaign against Oman

Kuwait: Qatar handball team will face Oman on Friday as they begin their campaign at the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, taking place in Kuwait from January 15 to 26. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the IHF World Championship 2027.

The draw placed Qatar in Group A alongside South Korea and Oman. Group B includes Bahrain, Iraq, China and Jordan, while Group C features Kuwait, the UAE, Hong Kong and India. Group D comprises Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

The top two teams from each group advance to the main round, which will feature eight teams divided into two groups playing a round-robin format. The top two from each main-round group will qualify for the semifinals, in addition to securing direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.

Qatar aim to defend their Asian title after winning the last six consecutive editions of the championship, and to qualify for the World Championship for the 11th time in their history. Their best-ever World Championship finish came at Qatar 2015, where they claimed second place.

The Qatari team were crowned champions of the 21st edition of the Asian Men’s Handball Championship, held in Bahrain last year, after defeating Japan national handball team 30–24 in the final.