Al Najma dig deep to lift the trophy
Al Najma dig deep to lift the trophy Second-half surge sees Al Najma crowned Khalid bin Hamad Handball League champions Hussain Almaskati TDT | Manama Al Najma clinched the K h a l i d b i n H a m a d Handball League title with a 25–19 win over Al Dair in an absorbing final yesterday, pulling away after a tense, evenly-matched first half.
The two sides were locked at 10–10 at the break in front of a passionate crowd, but Al Najma's experience told in the second half as they found another gear. With their defence tightening and the goals flowing at the other end, they outscored AlDair 15–9 to seal the win and reclaim domestic bragging rights.
AlSayyad leads the charge
The difference came down to key moments—and key players. National team captain Husain AlSayyad was instrumental in Al Najma's second-half turnaround, bringing calm and composure when it mattered most. Alongside him, Mohammed Habib AlNasser was ruthless in front of goal, finding gaps in the Al Dair defence as the game opened up.
Both players are part of Bahrain's preliminary squad for the 2025 World Handball Championship, and their performance here only underlines why they're likely to feature heavily when that tournament kicks off in January.
For Al Najma, this win is nothing new. The Manama-based club has a long-standing reputation in Bahraini handball, regularly producing talent for the national side and contending for silverware. Their success this season cements their status at the top of the domestic game.
It came just a day after Al Ahli wrapped up third place with a high-scoring 41–31 win over Barbar—another reminder of how competitive this season has been.
Al Dair came out of the blocks with energy and belief, matching Al Najma blow for blow in the opening 30 minutes. But as the match wore on, the gulf in experience began to show. They struggled to keep pace with Najma's more seasoned players and ultimately ran out of answers in the final stretch.
Their performance in the first half suggests there's more to come from this side in the seasons ahead.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
7 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Algeria crowned unbeaten champions as Bahrain wrap up with win over Kuwait
Bahrain finished the 26th Men's Arab Basketball Championship on a high last night with a 89-74 win over Kuwait, with Mustafa Hussain posting 20+ points yet again. Algeria sealed the title on Friday but gave a stunning encore at Khalifa Sports City—joining the Bahraini crowd to dance, chant, and celebrate in a true show of Arab unity. On the court, Bahrain came out flying. Having lost to Algeria just one day prior, the hosts weren't about to let Kuwait spoil their send-off. Mustafa Hussain Ali led with 21 points and 8 assists, while Wayne Chism controlled the paint with 15 rebounds and 2 blocks. Bahrain outscored Kuwait in three of the four quarters, with Ahmed Khalifa and Ahmed Salman chipping in 28 points between them. Kuwait, who finished the tournament winless, leaned on Abdulrahman Al Shammari's 28-point outburst and Abdulaaziz Alhamidi's 18. Algeria Crowned Unbeaten Champions Earlier, Algeria capped off their unbeaten run with a 78-70 win over former champions Egypt, who had struggled for consistency throughout the tournament. Sedoud Chakib, again dominant, poured in 25 points and earned Man of the Match honors. Egypt's Moamen Tareq had 18, but it wasn't enough to spoil Algeria's crowning moment. Egypt's Ibrahim Hisham praised Bahrain's hosting, calling the rapid turnaround after Tunisia's withdrawal 'nothing short of remarkable.' Final Podium Locked The day began with Tunisia fending off a late surge from Qatar to win 79-72. Oussama Marnaoui, who led with 21 points, said post-game the team 'finally clicked' after early struggles—including a Day 1 loss to Algeria. Djan Janik scored 32 for Qatar in a losing effort. With this win, Tunisia finished the championship in 2nd place. The Emiratis did not feature in yesterday's matches, but they stood in 3rd place on the podium.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Asian Youth Games to Launch Indoors at EWB
TDT | Manama The third Asian Youth Games (AYG), set to be held in Bahrain later this year, will officially open on October 22 with a landmark indoor ceremony at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) in Sakhir. This is the first time the AYG opening event will be held inside a venue, diverging from the outdoor traditions of the editions in Singapore (2009) and Nanjing, China (2013). Over 4,000 Athletes Expected Held under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, this year's AYG will welcome more than 4,000 athletes, boys and girls aged 14 to 18, from 45 National Olympic Committees. It will also serve as a qualification platform for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. EWB to Present Bahrain The chosen venue, EWB, is one of the Middle East's newest and largest exhibition centres, inaugurated in late 2022. Spanning 149,000 square metres, it includes a main hall with seating for 4,000 and modern facilities designed to host high-profile international events. Organisers promise a unique ceremony featuring performances that reflect Bahraini identity and hospitality, with more details to be revealed in the lead-up to the Games. Sports and Scheduling A total of 24 sports have been approved by the Olympic Council of Asia and the AYG organising committee, ranging from traditional disciplines like athletics and swimming to emerging events such as E-sports and camel racing. Seven sports will begin before the opening ceremony—boys' futsal, handball, and volleyball start October 19, while girls' futsal, kabaddi, teqball, and beach volleyball begin October 21. The Games will conclude on October 31 with swimming finals and the official closing ceremony.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Højlund Inspires as Amorim's System Takes Shape
TDT | Manama Manchester United beat Bournemouth 4-1 in the Premier League Summer Series at Soldier Field, with Rasmus Højlund scoring inside eight minutes to set the tone. Patrick Dorgu added a second in the first half, before Amad Diallo and substitute Ethan Williams capped off an encouraging performance in the second. Controlled Performance Despite the absence of new signings Matheus Cunha (rested due to fatigue) and Bryan Mbeumo, United delivered a cohesive display in humid conditions, showing intensity and control throughout. Højlund's movement and link-up play stood out, while Dorgu and Diallo offered consistent attacking outlets in wide areas. Ethan Williams scored within a minute of coming on, finishing off a sweeping move. Bournemouth pulled one back late on via an own goal from Matthijs de Ligt, who inadvertently diverted a cross past goalkeeper Tom Heaton in the 88th minute. But the scoreline fairly reflected United's dominance, with Ruben Amorim's team looking sharper and more structured than in previous outings. Signs of Progress Head coach Ruben Amorim praised the team's intensity, noting improved possession and pressing. He highlighted Højlund's hold-up play and overall influence as key to the side's rhythm, saying 'we are playing better because he's playing better.' The result builds on United's 2–1 win over West Ham earlier in the competition. A win in their final game against Everton would hand United the Summer Series title, and offer further evidence that Amorim's system is beginning to take hold.
