Saudi youth handball team clinches bronze at Asian championship

Saudi Arabia's under-20 handball team claimed the bronze medal at the 19th Asian Championship after defeating Bahrain 37-27 in the third-place playoff held today, marking the end of the tournament hosted by China.

The Saudi team dominated the match, finishing with a ten-goal lead to secure the bronze and return to the Asian podium after a 10-year absence.

Saudi player Mohammed Al-Qaed was named best player of the match for his outstanding performance, which was instrumental in the team's victory.

The Saudi squad impressed throughout the tournament, topping their group with a perfect record of 10 points after wins over Oman, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, China, and Hong Kong. They then defeated Kuwait in the quarterfinals, securing qualification for the 2027 World Championship, before losing to the UAE in the semifinals. The campaign concluded with a win over Bahrain to take bronze.

This achievement highlights the progress of the Saudi youth handball team, combining qualification for the 2027 World Championship with a return to the Asian podium, reflecting the strong technical and administrative work in Saudi handball.

The bronze medal ends a 10-year wait for an Asian podium finish, with the team's last achievement being a silver medal in the 2016 edition.