The Kuwaiti players celebrate with officials after beating Japan to qualify for the Junior World Cup.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 12: Kuwait's junior handball team has secured a spot in the 2025 Junior World Cup in Egypt, demonstrating its merit and capability. The team achieved this milestone by defeating Japan 27-23 in their final group-stage match of the 10th Asian Championship in Amman.

With this victory, the Kuwaiti team topped its group and advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Championship, alongside Japan, who also qualified for the World Cup. Saudi Arabia and South Korea advanced from the other group, while Bahrain will face Iran for the fifth-place spot and the final World Cup qualification slot.

Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, congratulated the junior handball team on its World Cup qualification. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), he praised the players' exceptional performance and expressed hope for continued success in the tournament. He attributed the achievement to the ongoing support from the political leadership and the dedicated efforts of the Kuwait Handball Federation and the team’s technical and administrative staff.

Fouad Al-Balushi, President of the Handball Federation, commended the team’s accomplishment, stating that it has revitalized the sports community. He acknowledged the significant effort from players, staff, and the Federation’s management, as well as the support from the players' families.

Vice President of the Kuwait Handball Federation, Shabib Al-Hajri, also expressed his congratulations, noting the impressive level of play throughout the qualifiers. He highlighted the Federation's success in creating a positive environment for the team, which contributed to their achievement.

Secretary of the Handball Federation, Gayed Al-Adwani, dedicated the success to the political leadership, Minister Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Acting Chairman of the Sports Authority Bashar Abdullah, and everyone who supported the team. He emphasized that the qualification reflects Kuwaiti handball’s ongoing success and resilience on both regional and international stages. Al-Adwani concluded by thanking Minister Al-Mutairi and Director General of the Public Authority for Sports, Bashar Abdullah, for their unwavering support and efforts in overcoming challenges faced by Kuwaiti handball teams.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff