Competition intensified among the four Gulf teams — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman — participating in the first edition of the UAE International Friendly Youth Handball Tournament, as the second day of competition drew to a close. The event is organised by the UAE Handball Federation in cooperation with Shabab Al Ahli Club, and is hosted at the sports hall of Shabab Al Ahli Club in the Mamzar area of Dubai. The tournament runs until 1 July under the slogan "Proud of the UAE".
The day's two matches were attended by Engineer Saud Saleh, President of the UAE Handball Federation, his deputy Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the Federation Abdulla Al Salam Al Muhairibi, a number of leading local figures in the sport, and officials from the participating national teams.
4 national teams
The tournament features the national teams of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman as part of their early preparations for upcoming continental competitions, most notably the 2027 Asian Youth Championship. The tournament provides an ideal opportunity for technical staffs to assess player readiness, test tactical plans, and give young players more competitive exposure.
The second round featured two exciting and closely contested matches. Qatar secured an important victory over the UAE, winning 29–26 after leading 16–12 at half-time, boosting their chances of topping the first-round standings following a performance marked by defensive discipline and attacking effectiveness.
In the second match, Bahrain continued to impress and overcame their Omani counterparts with a deserved victory, winning 40–33 after leading 21–11 at half-time, keeping their hopes alive of advancing to the final.
Tomorrow's matches
The excitement continues on Monday with the third and final round of the group stage, as the UAE face Oman in a match in which the hosts will seek to end the group stage on a positive note, while the second match brings together Qatar and Bahrain in a highly anticipated encounter that will conclusively determine the final standings.
The results of the final round will determine which two teams contest first and second place in the final scheduled for 1 July, as well as which two teams play for third and fourth place, bringing down the curtain on the first edition of the tournament — an important preparatory milestone for the Gulf teams on the road to upcoming Asian competitions.
Asian ambitions
The tournament forms part of the UAE youth team's preparation programme ahead of participation in the 19th Asian Handball Championship for players under 20, to be hosted in the Chinese city of Chaozhou from 15 to 26 July, with qualification spots on offer for the 2027 World Youth Championship in Macedonia.
The national team will compete in the Asian Championship as part of Group 2, which includes South Korea, Iran, the Sultanate of Oman, Chinese Taipei, Qatar and India — a strong group in which fierce competition for World Championship qualification berths is anticipated.
For his part, Abdulsalam Rabee Al Muhairibi, Secretary-General of the UAE Handball Federation, confirmed that the tournament is proceeding in line with its set objectives, both technically and organisationally, noting that the matches had featured strong performances and intense competition among all participating teams.
Al Muhairibi said: "We are pleased with what the teams have shown in the first two rounds of the tournament. The matches have been played at a distinguished technical level that reflects the importance of this tournament as a preparatory phase before the upcoming continental competitions. Competing against teams with different technical schools gives all coaching staffs an ideal opportunity to evaluate their players and raise their level of readiness."
He added: "The UAE team is benefiting greatly from these matches, and results are not the primary objective — what we are striving for is to reach the highest level of readiness before the Asian Championship. We also greatly value the cooperation of all participating delegations, and we thank Shabab Al Ahli Club for their efforts in hosting the tournament and providing all the ingredients for success. We look forward to a distinguished conclusion that reflects the standing UAE handball has achieved."