Doha, December 28 (QNA) - The Qatari handball squad is braced for a showdown with Belarus tomorrow, Monday, at Duhail Sports Hall in a friendly match ahead of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship.

The tournament is set to be held in Kuwait from January 15 to 26, 2026, serving as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany.

Qatar had played a friendly match on Saturday against Iraq, securing a 33-23 victory. The squad recently played two friendlies against Saudi Arabia, losing the first 26-25 and winning the second 31-25.

Through these friendlies, Qatar aspire to reach the pinnacle of full readiness ahead of the Asian championship contests, with the draw placing Qatar in Group A alongside South Korea and Oman, while Group B includes Bahrain, Iraq, China, and Jordan.

Group C comprises Kuwait, the UAE, Hong Kong, and India, whereas Group D features Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the main round, featuring eight teams competing in a round‑robin format.

The top two teams from the main round will then qualify for the semifinals and earn direct qualification for the 2027 Championship.

As such, Qatar strive to maintain the Asian title clinched in the last six editions and to reach the World Men’s Handball Championship for the eleventh time in its history, with its runner-up finish at the 2015 edition hosted in Qatar standing as its best performance in a global tournament to date.

Qatar celebrated a victory lap by winning the 21st tournament in Bahrain in 2024, taking on Japan 30-24 in the final. (QNA)