KUNA photo Players fighting for the ball during the Qatar and Saudi Arabia match.

KUWAIT CITY, May 5 (KUNA):  Bahrain secured a narrow 28-26 victory over Iraq on Monday in the opening match of the 10th Arab Men’s Handball Cup, which runs in Kuwait until May 11.

The first half saw balanced play from both teams, with Bahrain holding a slight edge to lead 15-13 at the break. In the second half, Iraq mounted a strong comeback, closing the gap and briefly threatening to take the lead. However, Bahrain managed to regain control in the final minutes to clinch the win.

Meanwhile, Qatar defeated Saudi Arabia 31-22 in a Group B matchup held at the Sheikh Saad Abdullah Complex in Kuwait.

The first half was closely contested, with both teams displaying strong defensive efforts. Qatar managed to edge ahead by halftime with a 16-12 lead.

In the second half, the Qatari team pulled away, extending their advantage and maintaining control until the final whistle. Goalkeeper Ahmad Magdi was named the best player of the match for his outstanding performance.