Al-Khaleej ends Kuwait Club's unbeaten streak

Kuwait Club player is held back by rivals as he makes a goal attempt during the Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship.

KUWAIT CITY, June 8: Kuwait Club fell to its first defeat of the 28th Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship after losing 34-31 to Saudi Arabia's Al-Khaleej in a third-round preliminary match played yesterday at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex.

The victory moved Al-Khaleej to five points from two wins and a draw, while Kuwait Club remained on four points after recording two victories and one defeat.

In other second-round results, Burgan defeated UAE side Sharjah 26-18, while Kuwait Club overcame Bahrain's Al-Najma 30-26. Al-Khaleej and Qatar's Al-Arabi shared the points in a 28-28 draw.

The tournament schedule grants all participating teams a rest day today before action resumes tomorrow with three highly anticipated encounters. Burgan will face Al-Khaleej, Kuwait Club will meet Qatar's Al-Duhail, and Sharjah will take on Al-Najma.

Minister of State for Youth and Sports Affairs Dr. Tariq Al-Jalahma commended the organizers of the 28th Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2026 IHF Men's Club World Championship in Egypt and continues in Kuwait until June 17.

Al-Jalahma said Kuwait has consistently proven its ability to host major international sporting events and remains committed to providing the necessary support to ensure the success of such competitions across all sports.

He highlighted the significant progress made by Kuwaiti handball and Gulf handball in general, noting that the sport has reached an impressive competitive level. He also predicted that the championship would become even more exciting as the knockout stages approach.

The minister thanked the Kuwait Club and the organizing committee for their efforts, praising the strong fan attendance and the contributions of young volunteers who have played a key role in the event's success.

Kuwait Club President Khaled Al-Ghanem said the club's primary objective in hosting the championship is to strengthen ties among Gulf nations and bring together brothers from across the GCC in Kuwait.

Speaking during the tournament, Al-Ghanem emphasized Kuwait's longstanding commitment to welcoming regional sporting events and providing the ideal environment for their success. He noted that the friendly atmosphere surrounding the championship reflects the close relationships shared by Gulf countries.

Al-Ghanem added that, according to Asian Handball Federation President Bader Al-Dhiyab and participating delegations, this year's edition is considered the strongest in the tournament's history due to the high standard of competition and the quality of professional players recruited by the clubs.

He said the closely contested matches and narrow scorelines witnessed since the opening day underline the strength of the participating teams and their determination to secure the title and a place at the Club World Championship.

Al-Ghanem concluded by wishing all teams success and expressing hope that supporters would continue to enjoy the high-quality handball and competitive spirit on display throughout the tournament.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff