PH handball teams eyes for Asian Championships and in SEA Games

The Philippine handball squads are all gearing up to reach new heights as they compete in the beach and indoor events of the upcoming regional and continental tournaments this year.

After their fruitful campaign in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Beach Handball Championships in Suphanburi, Thailand, where they copped the gold and bronze medals last week after beating Vietnam in the men’s final, 2-1, highlighted by a thrilling 9-8 win via a shootout, while the women’s side, bagged the bronze medal.

Philippine men’s national beach handball team member Rafael Agtarap is more confident at the country’s delegates to the sport in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games later this year.

“Magandang experience sa amin ito, magandang fuel para ma-boost yung preparations namin sa SEA Games,” Agtarap said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

Before that, the Philippine handball squad are also eyed for another task as they vie in the 10th Asian Men’s and Women’s Beach Championship which will be held in Muscat, Oman, slated from May 1 to 10.

The tournament, according to national team head coach Gab De Guzman, plays a key role in the preparation of the Filipino handballers as they aim to make an impact in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.

“Siguro we need to practice more and have a training camp, kasi if you really want a shot at a gold medal in the SEA Games, these coming few months talaga is critical. And like what we did on the beach, we believe we can perform at a high level in this coming Southeast Asian Games,” said the handball team coach.

Tough tests await the men’s team as Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, and host Oman are taking part in the week-long tilt. The women's crew, meanwhile, braces for powerhouse Vietnam, India, and Hong Kong.

The country hasn’t won a gold medal yet in handball in the SEA Games, with the men’s beach team copping the silver in the 2021 edition in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Asian meet also serves as a qualifier for the World Handball Championships slated in Germany in January 2027.