Doha, December 15 (QNA) - Qatar's national handball team lost to Saudi Arabia 26-25 in their first friendly match on Monday, part of preparations for the 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship to be held in Kuwait from January 15 to 26. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 World Championship in Germany.

The two sides will meet again in a second friendly on Wednesday. Qatar is aiming to reach peak readiness before the Asian competition, where it has been drawn into Group A alongside South Korea and Oman.

Group B includes Bahrain, Iraq, China and Jordan; Group C features Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and India; while Group D consists of Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the main round, which will feature eight teams split into two groups. The leading two from each group will qualify for the semifinals and secure direct entry to the 2027 World Championship.

Qatar is seeking to defend its Asian title, having won the last six editions. The team has appeared in the World Championship ten times, with its best result being a runner-up finish at the 2015 tournament hosted in Doha.

Last year, Qatar claimed the 21st Asian Championship in Bahrain after defeating Japan 30-24 in the final. (QNA)