Muscat: The International Handball Federation (IHF) announced the match schedule for the 12th edition of the Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships, which will be hosted by Croatia from 23-28 June. Oman national team will kick off its campaign in the championships by facing the host country, Croatia, on 23 June in Group D.

According to Oman News Agency, the draw placed the national team in Group D alongside Croatia, France, and Australia. Oman national team will meet the Croatian team in its first match at 3:00 PM Muscat time, before facing France on the same day at 8:00 PM. The team will conclude its first-round matches by facing Australia on 24 June at 3:00 PM Muscat time.

The tournament features the participation of 32 teams, consisting of 16 men’s teams and an equal number of women’s teams, with a total of 144 matches. Group A includes Spain, Portugal, Iran, and the United States of America, while Group B comprises Hungary, Denmark, Tunisia, and Puerto Rico, and Group C features Germany, B
razil, Argentina, and Italy. The tournament is played in a preliminary round single round-robin format, from which the top three teams from each group qualify for the main round, which is divided into two groups, before moving to the knockout stages starting from the quarterfinals up to the final match.

As part of its preparations for this global event, the national team continues its daily training on the sand court at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher under the leadership of national coach Hamoud Salim Al Hasani and his assistant Jaber Yaqoub Al Balushi. The technical staff is focusing on technical and tactical aspects and raising the readiness of the players before heading to an external training camp in Croatia.

The team is scheduled to play in a friendly international tournament during its external camp from 18-21 June, with the participation of eight teams to enhance technical exposure, assess the players’ levels, and test several tactical plans and techniques before the start of the tournament.
The national team hopes to achieve an honorable appearance during its ninth participation in the Beach Handball World Championships, relying on the vast experience its players have gained from previous international appearances and the prominent position that Omani beach handball has come to occupy on the global stage.

The current squad list includes Mahdi Al Suleimani, Yasser Al Harthy, Said Hamad Al Hasani, Hudhaifa Al Siyabi, Hamad Al Hasani, Ahmed Al Ghailani, Abdulhakim Al Siyabi, Al Yazan Al Busaidi, Said Isa Al Hasani, Muhannad Al Zarafi, and As’ad Al Hasani.