Oman Handball Team Gears Up for Asian Tourney

The Oman national handball team has kicked off its preparations for the upcoming 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, scheduled to take place from January 15 to 26, 2026, in Kuwait at the Shaikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex in Sabah Al Salem City. The championship is a critical qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany, with the top four teams earning a place at the global event.

Drawn into Group A, Oman faces a challenging path, grouped alongside defending champions Qatar and South Korea, setting the stage for one of the tournament’s most highly contested pools.

Training began on Tuesday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, under the guidance of head coach Nabil bin Hassan al Balushi and assistant coach Ahmed bin Salem Ambusaidi. A squad of 26 players has been selected for the initial training camp, with the list to be trimmed down closer to the tournament date to form the final team that will represent Oman in Kuwait.

The preparation programme includes a mix of domestic and international training camps and friendly matches, all tailored to boost physical fitness, refine tactical execution, and enhance team cohesion. The coaching staff hopes to leverage the squad’s experience, discipline, and resilience to push for a strong showing and uphold the progress made by Omani handball on the continental stage.

The preliminary squad features:

Abdulhakim al Siyabi, Bashar al Hinai, Mohammed al Araimi, Sameeh al Azzan, Abdulaziz al Majrafi, Mohammed and Ahmed al Dighaishi, Mahmood al Wahibi, Said and Qais al Hasani, Issam al Balushi, Qusai al Battashi, Abdulaziz and Abdullah al Siyabi, Mohammed and Abdulmajid al Balushi, Al Azhar al Hadidi, Nawaf, Saud, Mohammed and Hamad al Hasani, Khalid al Jabri, Azan al Maashari, Muhannad al Zarafi, Waleed al Hinai, Omar al Dighaishi, and Hassan al Balushi.

Anwar al Balushi, Head of the Handball Department at the Oman Handball Association, stressed the value of this phase:
“This preparation period is vital for laying the technical and mental foundations ahead of the Asian Championship. It gives the coaching staff a clear opportunity to assess player readiness and foster greater team cohesion. Our goal is to build a team capable of competing strongly and reaching the semifinals, reflecting the continuous growth of Oman handball.”

The 2026 Asian Championship will see participation from 15 teams, divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals, with the final four securing their tickets to the 2027 World Championship in Germany.

Team V.DIR-EM-UAE