Muscat: As hosts of this prestigious edition, the Sultanate of Oman welcomes teams across Asia to compete in the 10th Asian Beach Handball Championship, with Group A action launching tomorrow evening. Oman’s first match against the Maldives — making their debut in the championship — marks the beginning of what national coach Hamoud Al-Hasani calls a high-ambition campaign for the title.

Earlier in the evening, Group B matches will see Pakistan clash with the Philippines at 6:00 PM, followed by a fierce face-off between Iran and India at 7:00 PM.

Oman, a powerhouse in Asian beach handball, enters the tournament with a legacy of excellence — having won the very first edition in 2004 and qualifying for the Beach Handball World Cup finals in Hurghada, Egypt. Coach Al-Hasani emphasized that the team is fully prepared and determined not to leave room for surprises in their opening match, aiming to secure three crucial points.

Preparations began on March 12, starting with the 3rd Gulf Games, where Oman clinched gold. The squad continued with rigorous training, including morning and evening sessions in a closed camp starting April 29, and completed two key friendly matches against Jordan to finalize tactical and physical readiness.

The final 10-player squad includes: Saeed bin Hamad Al Hosni, Yasser bin Saeed Al Harthi, Abdul Hakim bin Abdullah Al Siyabi, Bashar bin Yaqoub Al Hanai, Hudhayfah bin Suwaid Al Siyabi, Asaad bin Saeed Al Hosni, Ali bin Salem Al Jami’i, Muhannad bin Saeed Al Zarafi, Mahdi bin Salem Al Sulaimani, and Saeed bin Issa Al Hosni.

Coach Al-Hasani acknowledged the physical differences that can challenge Gulf teams at the Asian level but stressed that Omani players are motivated and focused.

In parallel, the tournament’s officiating team also began their duties today, undergoing fitness tests on the sandy court under the supervision of Saleh Ashour, Chairman of the Laws and Referees Committee of the Asian Handball Federation.