UAE squad leave for Bangkok

The UAE national handball youth team under-20 left yesterday for Bangkok to participate in the eighth Asian youth handball championship from August 21-31.

UAE are in group 'A' with Kuwait, Thailand and Japan. Group B comprises Qatar, China, Korea and Taipei. The UAE's first match will be against Thailand on Friday, the second against Kuwait on Saturday and the last match will be against Japan next Monday. The semifinals will be held on August 28 while the final August 30.

Ahmed Khalifa Hammad, assistant secretary, UAE Handball Association led the delegation to Bangkok. The other members are Mohammed Al Hammadi, adminstrator, Dr. Sayed Suliman, technical manager, Qassim Ashoor, coach, and 18 players.

Players list: Saeed Al Zaabi, Juma Obaid, Abdul Rahman Al Zaabi, Jasim Mohammed, Khalid Ahmed, Ahmed Al Shain, Mahmood Juma, Saeed Sultan, Ahmed Ibrahim, Abdul Rahman Ahmed, Eid Mohammed, Abdullah Ahmed, Walid Ibrahim, Khamis Al Ashar, Saeed Rashid, Adnan Sabil, Khamis Saeed and Abdul Rahman Juma.

Schedule:
Today: Opening ceremony, Thailand v Japan, Korea v Taipei. Tomorrow: Kuwait v Japan, Qatar v Taipei. Friday: UAE v Thailand, Korea v China. Saturday: UAE v Kuwait, China v Qatar.

Sunday: Kuwait v Taipei, Qatar v Korea. Monday: UAE v Japan, China v Taipei. Tuesday,

August 28: Semifinals, winners of group A v runners-up of group B, winners of group B v runners-up of group A.

August 29: Fourth of group A v fourth of group B to decide seventh and eighth places. Third of group A v third of group B to decide fifth and sixth places.

August 30: Third place match; final and closing ceremony.