Oman’s youth handball team concluded the 19th Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship in 10th place following a 45-24 loss to Qatar in the ninth-place playoff match on Saturday. The tournament, held over two weeks in Zhuzhou, China, brought together some of Asia’s strongest youth teams and also served as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship.
Qatar established an early lead and dominated throughout the match, leveraging its deeper roster and greater experience to open a 26-9 advantage by halftime. Oman, hampered by injuries and a limited squad rotation, struggled to contain Qatar’s fast transitions and clinical finishing but maintained determination throughout the game. The Omani team delivered a stronger second-half showing, scoring 15 goals compared to nine in the first half, with captain Said al Hasani and Ghassan al Mashari leading the offensive effort. Despite this improvement, Qatar held on to secure a comfortable victory and ninth place, while Oman settled for 10th overall.
During the championship, Oman faced a range of competitive teams including Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong China, China, Bahrain, and Chinese Taipei, gaining vital exposure to diverse playing styles and established youth programs. This experience is viewed as crucial for the development of the current Omani squad.
Head coach Kamel Hdidder acknowledged Qatar’s clear advantage and pointed to factors beyond the single match that contributed to the outcome. Hdidder noted that Oman entered the tournament without four key players due to injuries and suspension, forcing a restricted rotation of six or seven players who bore the brunt of minutes across five demanding matches. He emphasized that physical fatigue significantly affected team performance, making it difficult to sustain intensity at this level.
The Tunisian coach highlighted that leading Asian nations benefit from comprehensive youth development structures, competitive domestic leagues, and year-round training, enabling consistent player growth. In contrast, Oman’s preparation period was relatively brief. Hdidder called for enhanced investment in grassroots-level handball within Oman, including stronger youth competitions, more training camps, and long-term development strategies to narrow the competitive gap with top Asian teams.
Despite the result, players remained positive about the experience. Captain Said al Hasani expressed disappointment but pride in the team’s effort, particularly during the second half, and stressed the importance of using the lessons learned to improve in future tournaments. Ghassan al Mashari echoed these sentiments, describing the championship as an invaluable opportunity to compete against the continent’s best and build experience that cannot be gained elsewhere.