Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the opposing team. A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes, and the team that scores more goals wins.
Gaelic games are a set of sports played worldwide, though they are particularly popular in Ireland, where they originated. They include Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball and rounders. Football and hurling, the most popular of the sports, are both organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Women's versions of hurling and football are also played: camogie, organised by the Camogie Association of Ireland, and ladies' Gaelic football, organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. While women's versions are not organised by the GAA, they are closely associated with it but are still separate organisations.
The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) is the governing body of handball and beach handball in Asia. It has 44 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent, but excludes the transcontinental countries with territory in both Europe and Asia – Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation and Turkey – which are instead members of European Handball Federation (EHF). Three other states located along the western fringe of Asia – Cyprus, Armenia and Israel – are also EHF members. Hong Kong and Macau, although not independent countries, are also members of the AHF.
Beach handball is a team sport where two teams pass and bounce or roll a ball, trying to throw it in the goal of the opposing team. The game is similar to standard handball, but it is played on sand instead of on a solid floor. Because the ball loses most of its bounce on sand, there is little to no dribbling, and players instead perform more passing as the rules of travelling still apply.
The International Handball Federation (IHF) is the administrative and controlling body for handball and beach handball. IHF is responsible for the organisation of handball's major international tournaments, notably the IHF World Men's Handball Championship, which commenced in 1938, and the IHF World Women's Handball Championship, which commenced in 1957.
The Pakistan national handball team is controlled by the Pakistan Handball Federation and represents Pakistan in international tournaments.
The Thailand women's national handball team is the national handball team of Thailand and takes part in international team handball competitions.
The Syrian national handball team is the national handball team of Syria and is controlled by the Syrian Arab Handball Federation.
Handball in India is controlled by the Handball Association India. It was founded by Jagat Singh Lohan from Rohtak, Haryana, who was an alumnus of YMCA College of Physical Education of Madras. His efforts during Munich Olympics helped in establishing HFI. The member states were Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Vidharbha and Jammu and Kashmir. He was also elected as first secretary general of Handball Federation of India.
The Korea Handball Federation is the governing body of handball and beach handball in South Korea. KHF is affiliated to the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1960.
The Japan Handball Association (JHA) is the governing body of handball and beach handball in Japan. JHA is affiliated to the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), Japanese Olympic Committee and International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1952.
The Qatar Handball Association (QHA) is the governing body of handball and beach handball in Qatar. QHA is affiliated to the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), Qatar Olympic Committee and International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1978.
The Chinese Handball Association (CHA) is the governing body of handball and beach handball in the People's Republic of China. CHA is affiliated to the International Handball Federation and Asian Handball Federation. Founded in 1979, CHA is also affiliated to the Chinese Olympic Committee, East Asian Handball Federation. It is based in Beijing.
Handball at the 2018 Asian Games was held at the POPKI Sports Hall, Jakarta, Indonesia, from 13 August to 31 August 2018. In this tournament, 13 teams participated in the men's competition while 10 teams participated in the women's competition.
The Philippines national beach handball team is the national team of the Philippines. It takes part in international beach handball competitions and is governed by the Philippine Handball Federation.
The Kuwait Handball Association (KHA) is the administrative and controlling body for handball and beach handball in State of Kuwait. KHA is a founder member of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and member of the International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1970. Handball in Kuwait was founded by Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who is a member of House of Sabah, the ruling family of Kuwait. He was also the first President of KHA.
The Oman Handball Association (OHA) is the administrative and controlling body for handball and beach handball in Sultanate of Oman. OHA is a member of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and member of the International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1982.
The Chinese Taipei Handball Association is the administrative and controlling body for handball and beach handball in Republic of China. CTHBA is a member of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and member of the International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1972.
The Handball Association of Thailand (HAT) is the administrative and controlling body for handball and beach handball in Thailand. HAT is a member of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and member of the International Handball Federation (IHF) since 1998.
The men's qualification for the Olympic handball tournament occurred between January 2023 and March 2024, assigning quota places to the twelve squads for the Games: the hosts, the world champion, four continental events winners, and six teams from the IHF World Olympic qualifying tournaments, respectively.
