Asian Games 2026/27

Handball at the Asian Games is a quadrennial multi-sport tournament organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Unlike a league format, this competition operates as a knockout event featuring preliminary group stages followed by elimination rounds. The men's tournament typically fields thirteen teams divided into four groups, with advancing sides moving through a main round and semifinals. The women's competition generally involves nine to ten participants split into two groups.

Participation is determined by qualification pathways, primarily through the Asian Handball Championship, alongside automatic entry for the host nation. There is no promotion or relegation system within the structure. The men's handball discipline debuted in 1982 in New Delhi, India, while the women's category was introduced eight years later in Beijing, China. This schedule distinguishes the event from the Asian Handball Championship, which is a standalone continental competition held every two years and serves as the primary qualifier for World Championships and the Olympics.

Historically, South Korea holds the record for the most titles, having won seven gold medals in both the men's and women's categories. In the most recent editions leading up to 2023, Qatar has dominated the men's competition, securing victories in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Japan claimed the women's gold in 2022. The current season includes nations such as Bahrain, China, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Kuwait. The competition remains distinct due to its frequency and status as part of a broader multi-sport festival rather than a standalone sporting championship.