Organizing Committee of AHF Championship for Men Affirms Readiness to Hold Tournament

Organizing Committee of AHF Championship

The organizing committee of the 27th Asian Clubs Handball Championship for Men, which qualifies for the World Clubs Championship for Continental Champions (Super Globe 2025), has affirmed its readiness to host the championship during Nov.12-23-, 2024.

Al Rayyan Club is hosting the tournament, and its matches are being held at the Qatar Handball Association Hall in Al Duhail.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Executive Director of the Asian Handball Championship, Faisal Al Otaibi, said the organizing committee has finalized all preparations, including the logistical ones, thanking the supreme organizing committee chaired by HE Sheikh Al Qaqa bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of Al Rayyan Club for the support he afforded to the championship.

He also thanked the Qatari and Asian Federations and curators, pointing out that the opening match will be held Tuesday at 7pm between Al Rayyan of Qatar and Al Shabab of Bahrain at the main hall of Al Duhail.

Al Otaibi said he is confident in the concerted efforts to have an impressive image of this tournament, emphasizing that all preparations vis-à-vis accommodation and transportation facilities for teams, participating delegates, as well as representatives of the Asian federation and referees have been completed.

The organizing committee is committed to offering all facilitations for the media to superbly cover the tournament, stressing the importance of the media role in enhancing the tournament success, he said, declaring special arrangements for spectators, including a dedicated ticketing system coordinated with the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), Al Otaibi highlighted, stating that tickets will be available at the entrance gates of the stadium, while Al Rayyan Club will provide the tickets to the fans.

For his part, Secretary-General of the Qatar Handball Association (QHA), member of the supreme organizing committee, Mohamed Jaber Al Mulla, said Al Rayyan club makes extraordinary efforts to organize a stellar edition of championship, adding that QHA offers all kinds of support for the organizing committee and harnesses all expertise to have a successful event.

Al Mulla pointed out that QHA and Qatari clubs possess incredible expertise in hosting handball tournaments and organizing them in a best possible image based on international standards, expressing his confidence in the success of this event at the technical and organizational levels.

He affirmed that this Asian edition will feature the best participation of Asian handball teams, wishing Al Rayyan and Duhail the best to offer an honored image for Qatari handball.

Chairperson of the media committee of the Asian Handball Championship HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al-Thani affirmed that the organizing committee intends to provide all essential requirements to media to appropriately cover the event, indicating that the opening ceremony would be simplified while specifics of the ceremony will be unveiled later.

The tournament is being held under its new format approved by AHF with 10 teams divided into two groups. Group A includes the host team Al Rayyan, Kuwait's Al Kuwait SC, UAE's Al Sharjah, Bahrain's Al Shabab, and Iraq's Al Karkh. Additionally, Group B features Qatar's Al Duhail, Saudi Arabia's Al Khaleej, Kuwait's Kazma, Omans Ahli Sidab, and Irans Mes Kerman.

This is the fifth time for such a tournament to be held in Doha, after it was previously hosted in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.

Qatari handball is renowned with a rich history in handball tournaments, with Al Sadd Club holding the record for the most titles in the tournament, with a total of five championships.

(QNA)