The result puts them top of Group B on goal difference following Iran's 32-10 win over Australia at the Prince Nayef Sports City Hall in Qatif.

Prior to Saudi Arabia's fixture, Dammam staged both of Group A's matches.

The hosts of the 2020 edition, Kuwait, played Jordan in what was a close affair for the majority of the game before Kuwait pulled away to secure a 42-31 victory.

The tournament's most successful team of all time with nine titles, South Korea, annihilated Singapore 40-9 as they look to go one step further than the previous competition in 2020.

The South Koreans lost 33-21 in the final as Qatar who won their fourth consecutive title in Kuwait City in 2020.

Qatar were also in action today in Qatif as Group C got underway.

They pulled off a routine 31-14 win over Oman while Iraq snuck past the United Arab Emirates 32-31 in a thrilling encounter which went down to the wire.

Bahrain demolished Vietnam 46-14 to top the in Group D table, after Uzbekistan battled to a 28-24 triumph against Hong Kong.

It was the perfect start for Bahrain who are looking for their maiden title, despite appearing in the final four times.

Two-time champions Japan were supposed to feature in Group D but withdrew from the tournament due to several positive cases of COVID-19 within their squad.

The top two teams in each group progress to a second pool round which then determines the semi-finalists.

The final is scheduled to take place on January 31 in Dammam.

The top five teams will directly qualify for the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship, due to be held jointly by Poland and Sweden.