Oman Youth Handball Team Kicks Off Asian Qualifiers for World Championship TomorrowZhuzhou, China, 14 July 2026 (ONA) – Oman national youth handball team will commence its campaign tomorrow “Wednesday” in the 19th Asian Youth Handball Championship (U-20), hosted by the Chinese city of Zhuzhou during 15-27 July, with a match against the Saudi Arabian team in the opening fixture of Group 1. The championship serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, scheduled to be held in North Macedonia.Oman national team aims to secure a positive start that bolsters its chances of clinching one of the qualification spots for the World Championship, in a tournament that features an elite group of Asian teams competing fiercely for a place in the final stages.The national team will play its second match against Hong Kong on 16 July, followed by a two-day rest period. It will then face the host team, China, on 19 July, meet Bahrain on 20 July, and conclude its first-round fixtures against Chinese Taipei on 22 July.The tournament draw placed Oman national team in Group 1 alongside host nation China, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong – a group expected to witness intense competition given the closely matched levels of the participating teams and their determination to advance to the next round.The national team enters the championship following an intensive preparation program that included training camps and friendly matches, during which the technical staff focused on enhancing the players’ physical and technical readiness, strengthening team cohesion, and implementing strategic and tactical plans in preparation for this continental qualifying event.— Ends/AH