Players battling for the ball.

AMMAN, Sept 14: Kuwait begins its journey today in the inaugural Asian Junior Handball Championship, hosted in Jordan through September 25. The competition also serves as a qualifier for the World Cup in Morocco, scheduled for October 24 to November 2.

Drawn in Group A, Kuwait opens against Hong Kong before meeting Bahrain in the second preliminary round match on Monday.

The team prepared through an intensive program that included a European training camp in Croatia and Slovenia, followed by final preparations at home.

Kuwait’s 18-player roster features: Hussein Al-Istad, Mohammed Jabara, Nayef Al-Ajmi, Faisal Al-Enezi, Abdulhadi Mohammed, Ahmed Al-Mathen, Hussein Awad, Omar Madouh, Mohammed Al-Farhan, Fahad Al-Mahboub, Saqr Al-Obaid, Yasser Dashti, Ali Al-Hindal, Athbi Yaloos, Mohammed Salmeen, Zaid Al-Otaibi, Bader Al-Saleh, and Ahmed Al-Shammari. The team is led by head coach Ivan Dragic, assisted by Kuwaiti coach Khaled Al-Mulla, with Federation Treasurer Khaled Taleb heading the delegation.

Taleb voiced confidence in the squad’s ability to compete, praising both the technical staff and the players’ commitment. He highlighted the benefit of the European camp, which featured strong, friendly matches that sharpened the team both physically and technically.

Team standout Ahmed Al-Mathen also expressed optimism, commending the federation for its support throughout both training phases. He emphasized that the players are determined to represent Kuwait with pride and secure one of the coveted qualification spots for the Morocco World Cup.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff