Players hold training sessions.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 12: The delegations from Kuwait Club, Qadisia, and Salmiya clubs have returned following their external training camps in preparation for the 39th Arab Clubs Championship for League and Cup Champions. The tournament will be held from September 15-26, hosted at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex Hall in Kuwait.

Kuwait Club completed its camp in Croatia, where they played several friendly matches. Sameh Al-Hajri, Director of Handball at Kuwait Club, reported that the camp was highly beneficial and that the team is well-prepared to defend their title from the previous edition. He expressed confidence that the team will represent Kuwaiti handball and Kuwait Club effectively in the upcoming championship.

Meanwhile, Qadsia and Salmiya concluded their training camps in Doha, Qatar, also engaging in a series of friendly matches.

The draw for the Arab Clubs Championship placed Kuwait Club, the defending champion and host, in Group A alongside Al-Ahli (Qatar), Al-Karkh (Iraq), Al-Qoton (Yemen), and Salmiya. Group B features Qadisia, Al-Ahli Bank (Egypt), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Maliha (UAE), and Al-Hashd (Iraq).

The tournament’s opening round will feature four matches: Al-Hashd vs. Al-Ahli Bank, Salmiya vs. Al-Ahli, Qadsia vs. Al-Gharafa, and Kuwait Club vs. Al-Qoton.

Before the draw, Algerian clubs Mouloudia Bordj Bou Arreridj and Olympique El Oued, as well as Al-Huda (Saudi Arabia) and Al-Sha'la (Yemen), announced their withdrawal from the tournament. Mudhar (Saudi Arabia) also recently withdrew.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff