Kuwait edges Saudi Arabia to book Asian Youth Handball Championship quarterfinal spot

Players celebrate with the national flag after qualifying for quarterfinal.

AMMAN, Aug 26: Kuwait advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Junior Handball Championship after defeating Saudi Arabia 30-28 in their final Group B match in Jordan.

The Blues produced a strong display in a fiercely contested encounter, maintaining their advantage during key stages before holding off Saudi Arabia’s attempts to stage a comeback and securing a two-goal victory.

The result saw Kuwait finish third in Group B following a mixed preliminary-round campaign. It began with an emphatic 29-9 victory over Syria but subsequently lost to Qatar and Iran before ending the group stage on a winning note against Saudi Arabia.

Kuwait will now face the runner-up from the other group in the quarterfinals, with Bahrain and South Korea battling for second place.

The coaching and administrative staff will aim to build on the team’s improved confidence and prepare the players for the knockout stage, where there is no margin for error and maximum physical and technical readiness will be required.

The quarterfinal also carries significant importance, with the four semifinalists earning qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship. Kuwait will therefore be seeking another victory to move closer to both the latter stages of the Asian tournament and a place at the global event.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff