KUWAIT CITY, Nov 18: The 26th Asian Club Handball Championship was officially opened by Mohammed Al-Aiban, the Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, during a ceremony held at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex. Among the attendees at the tournament's opening were Yousef Al-Baidan, Director of the General Sports Authority, Badr Al-Dhiyab, Vice-President of the International Handball Federation, Sheikh Talal Al-Fahd, former President of Al-Qadisiyah Club, and members of the club’s Board of Directors.

In a brief speech, Minister Al-Aiban expressed regret for the absence of the Palestinian Al-Salah team, unable to participate in the competition. He wished them well and invoked divine kindness and assistance. The minister extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests, referring to the hosting nation as the "land of friendship and peace."

Vice President of the International Handball Federation, Badr Al-Dhiyab, emphasized the strong support of the Asian Handball Confederation for host countries and clubs in continental championships, especially the Asian Club Championship, national teams, and Olympic qualifiers. He praised the AFC's efforts in ensuring the tournament's technical success, particularly in terms of referees and observers.

Acknowledging the significant contributions of Al-Qadsia, Al-Dhiyab noted Kuwait's prowess in organizing such events. Wishing success to all participants, he expressed hope for a high technical level in the tournament, showcasing the game's status in the Yellow Continent.

In the opening match, the Al-Qadsia Club suffered a defeat against Sharjah Emirati, with a score of 28-30. Other results from the first round included Al-Arabi of Qatar beating the Iraqi Army 42-23 and the Lebanese Shabab Sidon defeating the Indian Sai 47-34 in the second group. In the first group, Saudi Gulf won against Al-Gharafa of Qatar with a score of 28-27, and the Bahraini Star overcame the Indian Golden with a score of 42-21.

With these results, the Qatari Al-Arabi team led the second group by goal difference, followed by Shabab Sidon II and Al-Sharjah III, each with two points. Al-Qadsia, Sai, and the Iraqi Army remained without a score. In the first group, the Bahraini Al-Najma team topped on goal difference from Al-Khaleej 2, both with two points, while Al-Gharafa and Golden remained without a score. As per the tournament schedule, all teams will rest today, and matches will resume on Monday.