Kuwait, January 27 (QNA) - The Qatari national handball team qualified for the final of the 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship, currently being held in Kuwait, after defeating Kuwait 27-26 in Tuesday's semi-final.

The Qatari team delivered a strong performance throughout the match, which went into overtime. Kuwait led 13-8 at halftime, but Qatar rallied in the second half to tie the game at 22-22, forcing extra time.

Kuwait led 25-24 at the end of the first extra period, but Qatar fought back to win 27-26 in the second extra period, securing their place in the final.

Qatar will face Bahrain in the final on Thursday. Bahrain defeated Japan 35-25 in the other semi-final.

The final will be played on Thursday. The final will be preceded by a third-place match between Kuwait and Japan to determine the bronze medalist.

The Qatari national team aim to retain their Asian title, which they had won in the last six editions. They won the previous edition, held in Bahrain last year, after defeating Japan 30-24 in the final, and are looking to secure its seventh consecutive title.

The Qatari team have already qualified for the 2027 World Championship, to be held in Germany, marking their eleventh appearance in the tournament. (QNA)