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Al Nasr and Al Dhaid have booked their places in the UAE Men’s National Handball Cup final after overcoming Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli respectively in two closely contested semi-final encounters.
Al Nasr ended Sharjah’s hopes of reaching yet another final after edging them in a dramatic 31–30 victory at Al Wasl Hall.
The match, which lived up to its high expectations, saw both sides battle intensely until the final moments.
Al Nasr produced a decisive finish to seal a narrow win and end Sharjah’s long-standing dominance in domestic competitions.
They demonstrated clear experience in managing the game, capitalising on several technical errors made by Sharjah that ultimately influenced the outcome.
One of the most controversial moments of the match came when Sharjah’s professional player Mouadh Ayari was shown a red card, a decision that many felt was harsh and not fully justified given the flow of the game.
In the second semi-final, Al Dhaid delivered a commanding performance to defeat Shabab Al Ahli 35–31.
From the opening whistle, Al Dhaid controlled the tempo of the game, maintaining their advantage throughout and securing a well-deserved place in the final.
The Central Region side successfully imposed their playing style throughout the match, denying their opponents any real opportunity to build momentum while capitalising on defensive gaps and Shabab Al Ahli’s subdued attacking presence.
The encounter also witnessed strong fan support, which played a key role in boosting Al Dhaid’s morale on court.
Inspired by the atmosphere, the players celebrated a historic achievement, securing a place in the tournament final in what marks a remarkable accomplishment during their debut participation in the tournament.
The match was officiated by international referee Omar Al Marzouqi, assisted by referee Nabil Al Mesmari, with Salman Abdullah recording the score, Khamis Al Ashr handling timekeeping, and Abdullah Al Nakhi supervising as continental referee.
The National Cup final is scheduled to take place on Monday.
