Players fighting for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 16: Kazma has strengthened its squad in the 40th Arab Clubs Handball Championship for League and Cup Winners, currently taking place at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex until September 22. The club announced the signing of Qatari side Al-Arabi’s player Hani Kakhi on loan, following the Arab Handball Federation’s decision to allow teams to add a new professional in the quarterfinal stage.

Kakhi joins the team alongside Tunisian duo Anwar bin Abdullah and Mohamed Farad, in addition to Slovenian professional Labain Ganos, under the guidance of Serbian coach Bozo Rudic.

Kazma expressed gratitude to Qatar’s Al-Arabi Club for approving the player’s move without conditions.

Before yesterday’s matches, “Al-Safeer” sat third in Group A with two points from one win and one defeat, behind leaders Kuwait Club (6 points) and level with Al-Shabab of Syria (also on 2 points but with a better goal difference). They are ahead of Naft Al-Basra (Iraq) and Al-Tali’a (Syria), who both have one point.

The group stage concludes today with Kazma facing Al-Tali’a (Syria) at 2:00 p.m., followed by Al-Shabab (Syria) vs. Naft Al-Janoub (Iraq) at 4:00 p.m., Al-Ahli Bank (Egypt) vs. Al-Hashd (Iraq) at 6:00 p.m., and Qatar SC against Salibikhat at 8:00 p.m. The quarterfinals begin tomorrow, with the final scheduled for next Monday.

In domestic action, Qadsia’s handball team secured its first Premier League victory of the season after three straight defeats, defeating Al-Arabi 29–25 at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex in the fourth round.

Elsewhere, Salmiya claimed a 34–28 win over Al-Nasr.

The standings now read: Kuwait Club(6 points), Burgan and Kazma (5 points each), Salmiya (4), Salibikhat and Al-Arabi (3 each), Qadsia (2), and Al-Nasr (0).

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s national junior handball team will play its second Group A match at the inaugural Asian Junior Handball Championship in Jordan, which runs until September 25 and qualifies teams for the World Cup in Morocco (October 24–November 2).

The team faces Bahrain today at 1:00 p.m. after making a strong start with a commanding 48–21 win over Hong Kong in its opener, where standout player Athbi Yalous was named Best Player of the Match.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff