Kuwait’s flag is paraded during the opening ceremony of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Hall.KUNA photos

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 15 (KUNA): The Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Hall was buzzing with excitement on Thursday as Kuwait staged the opening ceremony of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship.

Fans packed the stands and were treated to a vibrant spectacle featuring national songs, traditional Kuwaiti music, and impressive light and sound displays. The ceremony opened with a folkloric musical performance, followed by a patriotic song that energized the crowd. A welcome song for the participating nations further enhanced the celebratory mood, before a dynamic light show brought the opening event to a memorable close.

Kuwait opened the 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship with a commanding 46-12 win over India. From the start, the Kuwaiti team showed sharp focus, quickly building a lead of more than five goals within the first ten minutes.

It continued to dominate throughout the first half, closing it at 26-6. In the second half, Kuwait maintained control, steadily increasing its lead to secure a convincing victory and claim full points in its championship opener. Saif Al-Adwani was named Player of the Match for his exceptional performance.

The tournament, which kicked off today in Kuwait, runs until January 29 and doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup in Germany.

The United Arab Emirates made an emphatic start to their campaign, cruising to a 36–21 victory over Hong Kong in the championship curtain-raiser. Competing in Group Three, the UAE asserted its dominance from the outset to claim its first win of the tournament, which runs until January 29. In another opening-day encounter, Japan powered past Australia 45–23. Featuring in Group Four, the Japanese side controlled the match from start to finish, registering a convincing first victory in the Kuwait-hosted competition