The UAE Handball Youth General League delivered a highly competitive series of matches, featuring lopsided victories alongside a nail-biting finish. Action spanned multiple venues, reflecting the high intensity of the ongoing youth tournament.
Al Nasr set the tone early with a dominant 53–27 win over Al Dhafra at the Ghayathi Center Hall. The game was officiated by Dr. Omar Al Zubair Al Marzouqi, a distinguished international referee. His involvement is notable given his deep history with Al Nasr, where he played from 1984 to 1998 before turning to officiating. His credentials include earning a continental badge in Muscat in 2000 and an international badge in Kuwait in 2003.
Al Marzouqi achieved global recognition in 2011 by refereeing the World Championship final between Germany and Greece, a feat that shattered the European monopoly on final-match officiating. His contributions have been honored with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award and the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sports Excellence Award. Ending Europe’s long-standing dominance of officiating men’s World Championship finals since the establishment of the International Handball Federation (IHF), his appointment marked a breakthrough for non-European referees.
In other action, Al Jazira clinched the most dramatic result of the day, edging past Dibba Al Hisn 39–38 in a thriller at Al Jazira Club Hall. The contest remained neck-and-neck until the closing moments, highlighting the league’s high level of parity. With Al Jazira eventually securing a one-goal victory in the day’s tightest finish, the closely fought contest kept the outcome in doubt until the final stages.
Elsewhere, Al Bataeh cruised to a 45–27 win against Al Ain at their home club hall, while Sharjah outperformed Al Wasl in a 38–32 victory at Samnan Hall. Both winners showcased strong offensive coordination throughout their respective matches. Demonstrating their attacking strength, Al Nasr established a significant advantage to secure a comfortable win and make a strong statement in the youth competition. At Al Bataeh Club Hall, Al Bataeh produced an equally convincing performance to defeat Al Ain 45–27. In a competitive encounter, Sharjah managed to maintain their advantage and finish the match with a six-goal margin, adding another valuable win to their campaign. With Kalba ultimately doing enough to claim the win on home territory, the result highlighted the attacking quality of both teams.
The day also saw a high-scoring spectacle at Kalba Club Hall, where the home side defeated Mleiha 51–46. The match featured 97 total goals, underscoring the aggressive attacking styles employed by both rosters.
Rounding out the day’s fixtures, Shabab Al Ahli delivered the most lopsided scoreline at Al Zilaqah School Hall. They stifled their opponents, limiting Bani Yas to just four goals in a decisive 29–4 victory.
