"Hand Youth" finishes fifth at the Asian Games with a win over Chinese Taipei

Our national youth handball team defeated Chinese Taipei 30-29 in the match for fifth and sixth place at the 19th Asian Youth Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2027 World Championship in North Macedonia. The tournament, held in Suzhou, China, kicked off on July 15 and concluded yesterday, Monday.

In the first half, our team trailed by just one goal, 14-13. However, the Blue Team returned for the second half with improved performance, greater energy, and determination, turning the tables on their opponents to secure a victory that earned them fifth place in the Asian Championship. Our player Salem Al-Mahmoud was named the best player of the match.

The championship concluded yesterday with two matches. The first featured Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the contest for third and fourth place, followed by the final between the United Arab Emirates and South Korea. South Korea edged out the UAE 25-24 in the final. The first half ended with the UAE leading 13-8 after a strong performance, but South Korea staged a comeback in the second half, securing the victory in the final seconds.

Despite losing the title, the UAE qualified for the 2027 World Championship finals in North Macedonia. Saudi Arabia claimed third place and the bronze medal after defeating Bahrain 37-27, also securing their spot in the World Championship finals.