January 2026 newsResult
Verified report · International
Bahrain tops a 15-team Asian handball championship
Bahrain finished first in Kuwait ahead of Qatar, the host nation and Japan; all four semifinalists secured world-championship places.
15–29 Jan Asia Kuwait
The 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship brought 15 national teams to Kuwait from 15 to 29 January. Bahrain completed the tournament in first place, followed by Qatar, Kuwait and Japan.
The top four positions also carried qualification for the 2027 IHF Men's World Championship. That made the semifinal stage a decisive threshold: Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Japan each left the event with both a continental placing and a world-level berth.
Official sources
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