Al Rayyan achieved its first victory in the 27th Asian Men’s Handball Champions League Championship currently being held in Doha over the Emirati team Sharjah with a score of 26/28. The tournament’s competitions will continue until the 23rd of this November and qualifies for the World Champions Clubs Championship, the Intercontinental Champions Club “Super Globe 2025”. The first half ended in favor of Sharjah, UAE, with a score of 14/13, but Al Rayyan returned strongly in the second half and presented good levels through which it was able to achieve the advantage and exit the match with full marks. With this result, Al-Rayyan has four points and occupies second place behind Al-Kuwait Al-Kuwait, which is in first place, with a total of six points, followed by Al-Shabab of Bahrain with one point, then Al-Sharjah of the Emirates, in last place with no points.
The match was strong and fast, during which both teams tried to impose their control over the game and score the largest possible number of goals. The kickoff was extremely equal, as defensive cohesion and goalkeeping excelled during this period. The two teams relied on diversification in attack fronts and speed in implementing counterattacks, until the first half ended with Sharjah, UAE, leading by a goal difference of 14/13.
At the beginning of the second half, we witnessed the same scenario as the first half, with an advantage for the Al Rayyan team, which was able to return the result with a draw and continue its superiority through good organization in defense and exploiting the gaps in Sharjah’s defense line. The excitement reached its peak in the second half, when there was a great race and succession in scoring goals, but Al Rayyan was able to settle the result in its favor and achieve the first victory in the tournament with a score of 28/26.
Faisal Al-Otaibi: The current version is the best for the masses
Faisal Al-Otaibi, Executive Director of the 27th Asian Men’s Handball Champions League Championship, which is currently being held in Doha, and will continue until November 23rd and qualifies for the World Champions Club Championship (Super Globe 2025), confirmed that the organizing committee is looking forward to achieving the maximum levels of organizational success for the tournament.
Al-Otaibi said in statements on the sidelines of the tournament: Efforts are continuing at various levels to organize a distinguished edition worthy of Qatar’s leading position in terms of organizing and hosting major sporting events in the world.
He praised the fruitful cooperation with the Qatari and Asian Handball Federations, stressing that communication and joint work began some time before the tournament and cooperation is still in place with the aim of preserving the gains achieved and striving towards more success, offering thanks to His Excellency Sheikh Al-Qaqaa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, President. Al Rayyan Club, Chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee, for its continued support to make the current edition the best in the tournament’s history.
He pointed out that the large crowd attendance exceeded expectations, and is considered the largest in the history of the opening matches of the tournament, as it reached 4,900 spectators in the current edition in Al Duhail Sports Hall, and this enhances the distinction of the tournament.
Al-Otaibi revealed that Al-Rayyan Club is seeking to organize the tournament again in the future due to the great success witnessed by the current edition, and said: “We hope that the current edition will not be the last, as we look forward to hosting the event again in the future and we consider this an additional gain for Qatari handball and for Al-Rayyan Club.”
In a related context, he stressed that holding the Asian Championship would shed more light on handball and provide more support to the participating clubs, especially Al Rayyan, which is one of the most prestigious clubs in Qatar, the Gulf and Asia, with its many championships, achievements and titles at the local, Arab and continental levels.
It is worth noting that this is the fifth time that Qatar has hosted the Asian Men’s Handball Champions League Club Championship after 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. The current edition witnesses the participation of 9 teams divided into two groups. The first group includes Al-Rayyan, Al-Kuwait of Kuwait, Al-Sharjah of the Emirates, and Al-Shabab of Bahrain, while the second group includes Al-Duhail, Al-Khaleej of Saudi Arabia, Kazma of Kuwait, Ahli Sadab of Oman, and Miss Kerman of Iran.
Kamal El-Din Mallash: We dedicate the victory to the fans
Kamal Al-Din Mallash, Al Rayyan player, expressed his happiness at achieving the victory over Sharjah, UAE, stressing that the match was not easy and witnessed a great rivalry, but Al Rayyan succeeded in settling it and collecting points to continue its successful journey in the tournament.
He pointed out that his team plays all matches in a fighting spirit in order to avoid any surprises, as happened in the first match against Al-Shabab Al-Bahraini, which ended in a draw in the last seconds after the team was ahead in the score by four goals.
He said, “I think that the competition for the title is difficult in light of the participation of strong teams that include distinguished players, but Al Rayyan has the capabilities that make it able to compete, especially since the current edition is being held in Doha, and he hopes that his team will succeed in winning it despite the strength of the participating clubs.”
The player thanked the fans who strongly supported Al Rayyan during the match and pushed them to victory. He said, “We dedicate this victory to the Al Rayyan fans and we hope they will be present in abundance in the upcoming matches.”
Today is a rest day for all teams
Today will be a rest day for all the participating teams, provided that the first round competitions continue tomorrow, Saturday, when the date will be with three matches, where the Iranian team, Miss Kerman, will play from the second group with Kuwaiti Kazma at three o’clock in the afternoon, followed by the UAE’s Sharjah match with the Bahraini youth from the first group in It is a quarter to five in the evening, followed by the summit match between Al Duhail and Saudi Al Khaleej teams at six and a half in the evening.
Results of the first group matches
Bahraini Youth * Al Rayyan Qatar 29/29
Sharjah UAE * Kuwait Kuwait 29/30
Bahraini Youth * Kuwait Kuwaiti 25/33
Al Rayyan of Qatar * Al Sharjah of the Emirates 28/26