Sharjah 24: Sharjah men’s handball team won the top of the first group of the Federation Cup Handball Championship, at the opening of the 2023-2024 sports season, after defeating Shabab Al Ahli team with a score of 21-18, during the matches of the preliminary round of the competition, limited to the participation of nationals, passport holders, and children of female nationals, which brought the two teams together, on Tuesday, at Shabab Al Ahli Club hall in Dubai.

The match saw a great competition during the first half, as both teams exchanged leads until Sharjah team ended the second half with a score of 12 -11.

In the second half, the match ended with Sharjah leading  with a score of 21-18.

The Handball Federation Cup competition will be held with the participation of 8 clubs and will be played in two rounds, the preliminary with a one-round league system. Teams were distributed into two groups, the first of which includes Sharjah, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Wasl and Dibba Al Hisn, while Al Nasr, Al Jazira, Al Ain and Mleiha are in the second group.

At the end of the preliminary round, the ranking of each group will be determined, and the winner of each group will meet in the final, to determine the champion in one match, on September 16.

It is noteworthy that Sharjah, the record holder, and five-time champion last season, aspires to open the new season by winning the Handball Federation Cup, before competing in the UAE Handball Super Cup, on September 22, against Shabab Al Ahli, and then setting off to defend its title in the Emirates Cup competitions, next October 6, and the General Handball League competitions, on November 7.