USATH Awarded Highest Honor for Emerging Development at 2025 IHF Congress, Kolahdouzan to Head NACHC PRC

The United States was honored with the IHF President’s Development Award, recognizing outstanding commitment to the development of handball among emerging nations, awarded by vote of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Executive Council. The award highlights the outstanding progress achieved by USA Team Handball domestically and internationally during 2025 and represents a special distinction among the IHF’s 211 member federations worldwide.

The award was formally accepted on behalf of USA Team Handball by USATH President and Board Chair Patrick Jalabert, joined by CEO Michael King, during the IHF Congress held in Cairo, Egypt, on December 20–21.

“We are proud to accept this honor, even as we work to balance the remarkable moments and strides of this year with the reality that these are still—albeit critically important—the earliest stages of our progress, with so much ahead of us,” said CEO Michael King. “It is an exceptional honor earned by the numerous key contributors to a great 2025 for USATH, and we hope—and fully expect—that these are only the first steps in a period of substantial, sustained growth that will continue to justify the esteem of this recognition.”

In additional news from the Congress, Majid Kolahdouzan, a longtime U.S. international referee, IHF delegate, and member of the USA Team Handball National Referees Commission, was elected Chair of the Playing Rules and Referees Commission (PRC) of the North American & Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC)—a key leadership role in the governance and advancement of officiating across the region.