Burgan suffers first loss at Asian Club Championship

KUNA photo Burgan player is sandwiched between two Al Khaleej players as he goes for a shot during the Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship in Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, June 10: Burgan suffered its first defeat of the Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship, narrowly losing 26-25 to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Khaleej in a closely contested preliminary-round match.

The loss leaves the Kuwaiti side with five points from four matches, having recorded two wins, one draw, and one defeat. Burgan consequently slipped to second place in the standings, while Al-Khaleej strengthened its grip on the top spot with seven points from three victories and a draw.

The competition resumes today with the fifth round of fixtures. Qatar’s Al-Arabi will take on Bahrain’s Al-Najma at 4:00 p.m., before attention turns to an all-Kuwaiti showdown between hosts Kuwait Club and Burgan at 6:00 p.m. The round concludes with UAE side Al-Sharjah facing Qatar’s Al-Duhail at 8:00 p.m.

As part of the activities accompanying the tournament, Kuwait Club hosted a luncheon for club presidents, official delegations, and media representatives participating in the championship.

The event was attended by honorary club president Marzouq Al-Ghanim, chairman Khaled Al-Ghanim, members of the board of directors, officials from the Asian and Kuwait Handball Federations, and heads of participating delegations.

During the gathering, club officials welcomed the guests and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a comfortable and professional environment for all participants, reflecting Kuwait’s reputation as a successful host of major continental sporting events.

The luncheon provided an opportunity for officials, delegation members, and journalists to strengthen relationships and exchange views in a friendly atmosphere that highlighted the unity of the Asian handball family.

Guests praised the warm hospitality, high organizational standards, and welcoming environment provided by Kuwait Club and the organizing committee, emphasizing that the positive atmosphere surrounding the tournament reflects the significant efforts being made to deliver a successful championship on and off the court.

The initiative forms part of a broader program of activities designed to encourage interaction among participating delegations and promote the values of respect, cooperation, and fair play that lie at the heart of the Asian Club Championship.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff