DPA
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) want to take part in the handball world championships in Qatar in January, the ruling body IHF said yesterday.
The Handball Federation of Bahrain and the Handball Federation of the UAE have informed the International Handball Federation (IHF) about their wish to cancel their withdrawal from their participation,” the IHF said in a statement.
“Both federations have expressed their preparedness and wish to participate at this flagship event of the IHF.”
The IHF said a final decision will be made by its council at a meeting on Friday in Germany.
Bahrain and the UAE pulled out of the tournament little over a week ago.
UAE are drawn into Group C along with France, Sweden, Czech Republic, Algeria and Egypt. Bahrain are in Group D with Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Russia.
The UAE and Bahrain federations’ decision to take part in the tournament comes after the Gulf countries have ended differences between them.
After a mini-summit in Riyadh late Sunday, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain had agreed to return their ambassadors to Doha, eight months after withdrawing them.
A GCC statement issued after Sunday’s meeting said the accord “promises the opening of a new page… especially in light of the sensitive circumstances the region is undergoing”.
The reconciliation comes ahead of the annual GCC summit scheduled to be held in Doha next month.