Al Rayyan's Chadhli Guizani shoots to score against Kazma DC, during the third place play-off, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Al Duhail yesterday finished runners-up at the 25th Asian Club Handball Championship after going down fighting to Bahrain’s Al Najma Club in one of the most exhilarating final encounters in the history of the tournament.
Also yesterday, Al Rayyan secured third place in the competition after recording a 33-26 win over Kuwait’s Al Kazma SC in the play-off.
In a repeat of the 2017 final, Al Duhail took an early 13-10 lead at half time at the 25th Aban Arena in Isfahan, Iran, yesterday.
Al Duhail were inching towards what would have been their sixth title triumph, but the Bahraini team fought back to level the scores at 22 by the end of regulation time.
Both teams showed immense resilience against each other in the first extra-time, adding four more goals to each of their totals. The second extra-time also continued with both teams battling for the title, but Al Najma finally succeeded, ending the game at 31-30 for their second Asian title.
This is the fourth time that Al Duhail finished runners-up in the high-profile tournament, having also finished second in 2014, 2016 and 2017. The Qatar handball giants have enjoyed the title glory on five occasions (three as El Jaish, two as Al Duhail after the merger between El Jaish and Lekhwiya), in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021.
Al Najma had previously won the champion’s title at the 2017 tournament which took place Hyderabad, India, where they overcame Al Duhail with a 21-16 scoreline in the final.
They had finished runners-up at last year’s tournament, also held in Hyderabad.
Earlier, Al Rayyan showed their prowess against two-time title winners Al Kazma SC to secure the third place.
The half time scores read 15-13 in favour of the Qatari team, who had clinched the title on two occasions. They also clinched silver twice in the tournament.
