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Observer
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman set up Iran final in Asian beach handball
MUSCAT: Oman will take on Iran in a tight final clash of the 10th edition of AHF Asian Beach Handball Championship which will conclude on Thursday after intense competitions in the last few days at the sands court of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The national team players are targeting for their second Asian title after the first one in 2004. The summit clash will kick off at 8 pm while the third and fourth playoff between Jordan and Pakistan will start at 7 pm at the same venue. Oman team, coached by Hamood al Hasani, are all set with confidence to regain the title since the first title which was won in 2004 during the inaugural edition hosted in Muscat. Oman team had arrived to the final in six times but could not win the title except in the opening edition. Oman team secured a slot in the final after a thrilling 2-0 win over Jordan in the semifinal while Iran beat Pakistan with the same result to seal their berth in the concluding match of the Asian event. Both Oman and Iran confirmed their presence in the forthcoming edition of the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships. Coach Hamood al Hassani and his assistant Jaber al Balushi worked out on a strong tactics to deliver top match against Iran and clinch a new Asian title. The coaching staff prepared the team players for today's assignment against heavyweights Iran team which managed to lift the title in 2022. Oman player makes a goal attempt against Jordan. ONE STEP AWAY Speaking ahead of the final encounter, coach Hamood said:' We are just one step away from the title in our home country. The final against Iran will depend on small areas and the team with less mistakes will get the title. I am fully confident that my players will deliver their outmost efforts towards earning a victory and clinching the title,' he said. 'Our tactics was to focus in each game as final in this tournament and we managed to win all the games until reaching the final. In the semifinal against Jordan, I did some tactical shifts and positional changes which kept the opposition off balance, proving decisive in securing the win,' he added. Moosa bin Khamis al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Handball Association (OHA), appreciated team's fighting spirit in their semifinal triumph. 'Their performance was a true reflection of Omani grit and sportsmanship,' he said. 'We are proud of their qualification to the IHF World Championship next year and I hope they will now take the Asian title.' Al Balushi urged fans to show up in full force for the final: 'I am looking forward to see more fans who are acting as the heartbeat of this team and their energy will be vital as we chase our second continental title,' he concluded. FINAL CEREMONY The final match of the Asian event and concluding ceremony will be held under patronage of His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee in presence of Dr Hassan Moustafa, International Handball Federation (IHF) President, and other top officials. In the women's division, two matches are scheduled on Thursday. India will face Hong Kong and the match will kick at 5 pm while the title-deciding showdown between Vietnam and Philippines will start at 7 pm. Vietnam currently lead the standings with 10 points, followed by the Philippines with eight and both have punched their tickets to the 2026 IHF World Championship.
Observer
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman battle Saudi Arabia at Asian Beach Handball Championship
MUSCAT, May 10 Oman's national beach handball team will take on Saudi Arabia on Sunday in a tight clash at the underway Asian Beach Handball Championship. Oman team, coached by coach Hamood al Hassani, will eye to conclude group stage to be in the topper of group A following their two successive victories over Maldives and Hong Kong in the previous rounds of the Asian prestigious event. Both Oman and Saudi Arabia confirmed their presence to the quarters of the tournament as the latter also registered two victories against Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Oman are currently leading group A with goals difference than Saudi Arabia who are position as runners-up in the group. Today's clash will determine the group leader. The group (A) leader will meet the fourth placed team in group B. Oman and Saudi Arabia clash will take place 8:00 PM at the sand court of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. Both teams met recently in the GCC Beach Games which concluded last month in Muscat as Oman beat Saudi Arabia in two games. Oman team players are eyeing to secure slot in the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships in Morocco as this Asian tournament acted as qualifiers to the global stage event. Oman Head Coach Hamood al Hassani said that he is fully satisfied with the team's performances till now in the Asian event. ' Our target is to claim group leader tonight and then focus on securing a spot in the final. Saudi Arabia is one of the tight teams in the group following their outstanding who in the last two games in the group. However, we managed to defeat them in last month and my team players are in good shape to deliver top match,' he added A total of six matches will take place across the men's and women's competitions on Sunday. In the Women's Matches, Hong Kong will meet India at 6:00 pm while Vietnam will face Philippines and the match will kick off at 7:00 pm. The women's event followed a double round-robin format, with the Philippines currently leading the standings after two 2–1 wins over Hong Kong and India. Vietnam also remains a strong contender after defeating India 2–0. In the Men's Matches, the Asian heavyweights Iran will Philippines and the game will start at 6:00 pm while Hong Kong will take on Maldives in the match that will start one hour later. India and Jordan will be in a tight clash at 8:00 pm while in the same timing Oman and Saudi Arabia will conclude the group stage matches. In the previous round, Pakistan defeated India 2–0 in a thrilling fixture while Saudi Arabia beat Maldives 2–0 to snatch their second straight win in the tournament. Iran edged Jordan 2–1 via penalty shootout after a 1–1 tie. In the women's bracket, Philippines beat India 2–1 and Vietnam triumphed over Hong Kong 2–0. Dr Hassan Moustafa, President of the International Handball Federation (IHF), will arrive in Muscat on Monday for an official visit. During his visit, he will attend the Asian championship matches beside holding an official meetings with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) and the Oman Olympic Committee. Furthermore, he will meet with Moosa bin Khamis al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Handball Association (OHA) and Head of the Organising Committee.
