Handball league resumes amid Qadsia and Salmiya withdrawal standoff

A file photo of players in action.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6:The 2025-26 Kuwait Handball Premier League resumes today with two matches at the Handball Federation Hall, but the restart comes amid uncertainty over the status of Al-Qadsia and Salmiya following their announced withdrawal from the senior competition.

Al-Qadsia meets Sulaibikhat today, followed by Al-Arabi’s clash with Salmiya. However, the Handball Federation has yet to receive an official letter confirming the withdrawal of either club.

The federation said both teams therefore remain on the league schedule, and any failure to attend will be handled under the competition regulations. It is expected to wait until the two clubs miss their next three matches before taking action to remove them from the schedule and impose the relevant administrative and financial sanctions.

Al-Qadsia and Salmiya are both expected to be absent from today’s matches, creating an unusual backdrop to the league’s resumption. The remaining clubs, meanwhile, are determined to complete the 2025-26 season, which was suspended in early March due to events in the Gulf region.

The second round will be played tomorrow at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex, with Kazma facing Al-Nasr at 5 pm and Kuwait Club taking on Burgan at 6:30 pm. The third round is scheduled for Sunday, with the fourth round to follow next Wednesday.

The Premier League teams have maintained their preparations through intensive training sessions and a series of friendly matches. Burgan held a training camp in Bosnia ahead of its participation in the recently concluded IHF Men’s Club World Championship in Cairo, where it finished seventh.

Sulaibikhat also held an overseas camp in Doha, playing several friendlies before returning to Kuwait to complete its preparations for the domestic campaign.

All teams are keen to bring the 2025-26 season to a normal conclusion and decide the league title before turning their attention to the Federation Cup, scheduled from November 1 to 16.

The 2026-27 season is scheduled to begin after the national teams’ World Championship in Germany next January. The Super Cup is expected to be held in early February, followed by the start of the new league season.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/ Arab Times Staff