Kuwait head coach Aron Kristjánsson (center) with captain Abdullah Al-Khamees (right) and Abdulah Al-Mutairi address the media during a press conference.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 20: The 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, serving as qualifiers for the 2027 World Championship in Germany, pauses for a rest day today at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex, with action continuing until January 29.

Competition resumes tomorrow with the launch of the main round, in addition to the classification matches for the President’s Cup. The teams advancing to the main round are Qatar and South Korea from Group A, Bahrain and Iraq from Group B, Kuwait and the UAE from Group C, and Saudi Arabia and Japan from Group D.

The main round gets underway tomorrow, with Kuwait’s national team placed in Group One alongside Iraq, Japan, and Kuwait will begin its main-round campaign against Iraq at 6:00 pm tomorrow.

Talal Al-Otaibi, a member of the Kuwait Handball Federation, stated that the strong performances delivered by the national team so far in the 22nd Asian Championship have been no coincidence, but rather the result of hard work and full commitment from all parties involved.

Al-Otaibi noted that over the past three months, players and administrative staff have shown exemplary discipline during overseas training camps, daily training sessions, and preparations for the continental tournament.

He added that the impressive level shown by the team reflects the dedication and effort of the players, as well as the administrative and technical staff, stressing that strong results on the court are a natural outcome of sustained hard work.

Al-Otaibi expressed confidence in Kuwait’s ability to progress deep into the tournament, citing the team’s technical quality and the strong support they receive from home fans, which he described as the true source of motivation behind the team’s success.

He also praised the Handball Federation for its success in hosting the championship, commending the smooth organization and professionalism shown throughout the event.

Meanwhile, Kuwait head coach Aron Kristjánsson said the team produced a good performance against the UAE in the final match of the preliminary round, which it won 27-22.

Speaking after Kuwait’s victory, the Icelandic coach explained that injuries have sidelined several players, which has affected the team’s overall balance, particularly on the defensive side, during the previous matches.

He acknowledged some defensive shortcomings that need to be addressed, while also pointing out that the team missed several clear scoring chances in attack, issues that the coaching staff aims to correct quickly.

Kristjánsson added that the recent rise in injuries has forced the technical staff to rotate players to cover gaps in certain positions, noting that the upcoming main-round matches will be tough and decisive. He expressed hope that the injured players will return soon so the team can perform at full strength.

Team captain Abdullah Al-Khamees said the players take responsibility for the defensive and attacking mistakes made against the UAE and are determined to learn from them in the matches ahead.

Al-Khamees emphasized that the Kuwaiti fans who have backed the team throughout the tournament are the real stars, adding that the players are eager to repay that support by competing strongly in the main rounds. He also voiced confidence that the fans will continue to stand behind the team in the coming matches.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff