Al-Khaleej defeats Al-Ahli and strengthens its lead in the Saudi Handball League
-Khaleej 's first handball team continued its absolute dominance in the Saudi Premier Handball League , securing a valuable and well-deserved victory over its direct rival, Al-Ahli, with a score of 31-27 . This exciting match, held at the Ministry of Sports Hall in Dammam as part of the fourteenth round of the championship, reaffirmed Al-Khaleej's determination to retain the title for the fourth consecutive season.
Strengthening the lead and changes in the standings
With this resounding victory, Al-Khaleej solidified their position at the top of the standings, raising their points tally to 26 and widening the gap with their closest rivals. Conversely, this setback caused Al-Ahli to drop to third place, remaining stuck on 20 points, thus complicating their title aspirations this season.
In a related development within the same round, the competition witnessed a dramatic shift in the runner-up positions, with Al -Huda to second place with 21 points, capitalizing on Al-Ahli's stumble and securing a well-deserved victory in a thrilling derby against their neighbor Al-Noor with a score of 26-24. Al-Noor, meanwhile, remained in fourth place with 16 points, tied with Mudhar in fifth, foreshadowing a fierce battle for the top spots in the remaining rounds.
Historical dominance and regional context
This dominance by Al-Khaleej is no coincidence, but rather an extension of a golden era for the club nicknamed "Al-Dana." The team has won the Premier League title for the past three seasons, dominating both domestic and continental competitions. These results reflect the technical and administrative stability the team enjoys, which also enabled them to win the Asian Club , making them a source of pride for Saudi handball on the international stage.
The importance of winning and its expected impact
The victory over Al-Ahli carries added significance beyond simply securing two points; it sends a powerful message to all rivals that Al-Khaleej has no intention of relinquishing its position at the top of the table easily. Domestically, this win puts immense pressure on Al-Huda and Al-Ahli to try and catch the league leaders, a task that seems difficult given the technical and physical superiority demonstrated by Al-Khaleej's players.
Regionally, Al-Khaleej's continued success contributes to raising the ranking of the Saudi Handball League, which has become one of the strongest leagues in the Arab and Asian regions, thanks to attracting international professionals and the high level of competition among clubs in the Eastern Province and Jeddah. As the league enters its decisive stages, Al-Khaleej appears to have the best chance of winning the title again, supported by a large fan base that is considered the number one asset in the Dammam arena.
