Kuwait clinches second round berth at the Asian Handball Championship

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MANAMA, Jan 14: Kuwait secured a spot in the second main round of the 21st edition of the Asian Handball Championship, the “2025 World Cup Qualifiers,” with a 31-27 victory over the Chinese Taipei team.

With this triumph, the Kuwait accumulated 4 points from victories against Oman and Taipei. Even with one last preliminary round match against the Qatar, Kuwait’s qualification remains secure, regardless of the result.

The match between Kuwait and China-Taipei showcased the dominance and style of our team, with most players shining, particularly goalkeeper Abdulaziz Al-Dhafiri, who received the best player award. However, in the last five minutes, the team’s performance slightly declined, resulting in a narrower margin after holding a 10-goal lead.

To strategically manage the outcome, Kuwait coach Saeed Hegazy opted to rest some experienced players in preparation for the upcoming face-off against Qatar.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia defeated India 48-17, the UAE overpowered Kazakhstan 39-15, and Bahrain emerged victorious against Hong Kong with a score of 47-20. The Iraq, causing an early upset, drew with Japan, a title contender and qualifier for the Paris Olympics, ending the match at 28-28.

Today’s competitions feature Japan against India, Kazakhstan against Hong Kong, Iraq against Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain against the UAE.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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