QHA unveil men’s handball roster for Asian Championship

14/01/2026

5 1 minute read

DOHA :The Qatar Handball Association (QHA) has announced the national men’s team roster for the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, set to take place in Kuwait from January 15 to 26, 2026. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany.

Selected by head coach Valerio Rivera, the squad features a blend of experience and depth, including Ahmed Madadi, Abdulrazzaq Murad, Amin Zakar, Mustafa Haiba, Franck Mazur, Alder Musovic, Rafael Caputa, Nasreddin Mugdish, Jovan Gjesevis, Filip Sarik, Hamdi Ayad, and Abdulrahman Tarek, among others.

Qatar have been drawn into Group A alongside South Korea and Oman. The competition’s group stage will see the top two teams from each group advance to the main round, where eight teams will be split into two groups competing in a league format. The top two from each of those groups will reach the semifinals and secure direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.

The Qatari side head into the tournament aiming to defend their Asian title, having won the championship in each of the last six editions. They are also targeting qualification for the World Championship for the 11th time in their history, with their runner-up finish at Qatar 2015 standing as their best global result.

Qatar arrive as reigning champions after lifting the title at the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship in Bahrain last year, where they defeated Japan 30–24 in the final, reaffirming their dominance on the continental stage.