Kuwait Club reaches Asian Club Handball Championship semifinals despite defeat

Players vie for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, June 14: The semi-final stage of the 28th Asian Club Handball Championship will be held today in Kuwait at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex Hall.

Burgan will meet Qatar’s Al Duhail at 5:00 pm, while Kuwait Club faces Saudi Arabia’s Al Khaleej at 7:30 pm. The winners will advance to the final, scheduled for the day after tomorrow at the same venue, while the defeated sides will contest the third-place match.

Al Khaleej topped the preliminary round standings to set up a semi-final clash with fourth-placed Kuwait Club, while Burgan finished second and will face third-placed Al Duhail. The tournament follows a format where first plays fourth and second meets third.

Both Kuwait Club and Al Duhail secured their semi-final spots after the final round of the group stage. Kuwait Club fell 30-28 to UAE’s Sharjah, while Al Duhail defeated compatriots Al Arabi 25-20. Kuwait Club finished the group stage with five points, while Al Duhail collected seven.

Bahrain Handball Federation President Ali Ishaqi described the current edition as the strongest in the tournament’s history, citing the participation of elite Asian clubs strengthened by top international professionals.

He noted that the competition has been highly balanced and intense, with two semi-final spots only decided in the final round of group matches, reflecting the high level of competition.

Ishaqi also praised the excellent organisation of the event in Kuwait, highlighting Kuwait Club’s strong track record in hosting major continental tournaments, which has contributed to the smooth running and positive feedback from participating teams.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff