Bahrain won its first title at the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship with a victory over Qatar in the final on January 28, 2026, as Kuwait defeated Japan for bronze in Kuwait City. Bahrain had beaten Japan 35-25 in the semifinals while Qatar overcame Kuwait 27-26 in extra time. The top four teams qualified for the 2027 World Men’s Handball Championship according to the International Handball Federation.
The Asian Handball Federation listed the final standings with Bahrain in first place, Qatar second, Kuwait third and Japan fourth. South Korea placed fifth, Saudi Arabia sixth, Iraq seventh and the United Arab Emirates eighth. China defeated Hong Kong for ninth position while other teams rounded out the 15-nation field. The tournament ran from January 15 to 29 at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex.
Kuwait has now earned five bronze medals in the competition’s history, having previously finished third in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1989, according to federation records. The hosts, who previously won the title in 1995, 2002, 2004 and 2006, were staging the event for the fourth time after previous editions in 1977, 1995 and 2020. Data from the Asian Handball Federation shows South Korea leads all nations with nine championship titles. Qatar had six titles entering the tournament.
Qatar entered the final seeking a seventh crown but fell short, having accumulated six titles prior to the tournament. Japan, holder of two titles, ended in fourth place after losses in the semifinal and bronze-medal games. The tournament featured a total of 50 matches among the participating teams. Kuwait’s strong showing included individual honors for its players.
Individual awards recognized Kuwait’s contributions, as Hasan Safar was named the most valuable player and Saif Al-Adwani led all scorers with 54 goals, the federation announced. These honors came despite Kuwait’s semifinal defeat. The event served as a key qualifier for the upcoming world championship. The top four finishers earned spots in the 2027 event in Germany.
Mishal Al-Qabandi, assistant treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Federation and head of its media committee for the championship, praised the organization of the event. Speaking to Arab Times, Al-Qabandi highlighted the extensive media coverage from Gulf, Arab and Asian outlets. He emphasized that such success resulted from strong government support and the hard work of the federation’s staff and committees. Al-Qabandi noted the smooth running of all matches and activities.
The 22nd edition built on the tournament’s growth since its inception, with participation from Oceania nations since 2018 expanding the field. Bahrain’s triumph added a first gold to its tally of eight total medals in the championship. Kuwait’s medal haul now stands at 11 including the new bronze, per historical data compiled by the International Handball Federation. The competition also determined Asian representatives for the senior world event scheduled for 2027.
