MUSCAT: Oman U17 Beach Handball team are underway in their comprehensive preparatory training plan ahead of their Asian campaign at the 3rd Asian Men’s Youth (U17) Beach Handball Championship which is scheduled to take place from 16 to 25 October 2024 in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand.
Oman team, coached by the national head coach Jaber al Balushi, are currently in a short domestic camp at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex began on Thursday. The coaching staff of the national team are taking the benefit of students who are off from school until Monday due to the official leave on the occasion of Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (PBUH) anniversary.
The former national handball beach team player and current head coach Jaber al Balushi will aim from this junior team to rekindle the memories of the senior national team. Oman team had managed to reach to the IHF Beach Handball World Championships for nine times in history and Oman senior team ranked as the second best team in Asia. The coaching staff will focus on the players with some tactics that will ensure strong show for the team during the forthcoming continental event. It is expected that Oman U17 Beach Handball team will play some preparatory games ahead of the Asian event. The final squad for the Asian championship will feature 13 players and the current number of players will be filtered in the coming camps. The final camp will be held in beginning of the following month (October) and later the team will head off to Bangkok for short training program prior the Asian competitions began.
The junior handball Asian event will serve as a qualifying event for the 3rd IHF Men’s Youth (U17) Beach Handball World Championship which will be held in Hammamet, Tunisia, from 17 to 22 June 2025. The top three (3) teams from this competition will secure qualification spots for the World Championship. Iran will eye to retain their title as they are entering this championship as the defending champion after they had clinched their maiden title in 2022 on home sand when the competition was held in Tehran. Thailand also won the championship on home sand during the inaugural edition held in Pattaya in 2016.
Oman will commence their campaign in the Asian event by a key match against the defending champions Iran on October 16 and they will play against Indonesia on October 17. Later, they will take on the hosts Thailand on October 19. The fourth game will be against Jordan in the following day and then against Qatar on October 23. The concluding match will be with China team on October 25.
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