Kuwait gears up for Asian Games with final training camp in Japan

08/09/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 8: The Kuwait national handball team will travel to Japan today for its final overseas training camp ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled for September 19-29.

Kuwait will open its Group B campaign against Iran on the first day of competition. Kuwait’s group also features Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and South Korea.

Kuwait Handball Federation Secretary-General Qayed Al-Adwani heads the delegation, which also includes Treasurer Khaled Taleb and team manager Fahad Rabie. Icelandic coach Aron Kristjansson leads the technical staff, assisted by Heini Janssen, while Mehdi Al-Bakoush serves as physiotherapist.

The 16-player squad consists of Hussein Dashti, Mohammad Buayabes, Hassan Safar, Abdullah Al-Khamis, Saleh Al-Mousawi, Saif Al-Adwani, Hamoud Al-Adwani, Aziz Salmeen, Haider Dashti, Fawaz Al-Mashari, Yousuf Dhaif, Aziz Dhaif, Abdulrahman Al-Shammari, Aziz Al-Shammari, Mohammad Ali, and Hussein Al-Mutawa.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Club has signed Haider Dashti from Al-Salmiya to strengthen its senior handball squad for the upcoming season. Ali Marzouq Al-Ghanem signed the agreement on behalf of Kuwait Club.

Dashti is considered one of the league’s notable players and is expected to add quality to a Kuwaiti club side aiming to maintain its dominance in domestic competitions while competing strongly on the international stage.

Kuwait Club has also appointed Brazilian coach Marcos Oliveira as head coach for the new season, replacing Algerian Said Hijazi.

The team is reshaping its squad ahead of the new campaign. Among those who have departed are Qatar international Frankis Marzo, Portugal’s Victor Iturriza, and local players Mohammad Amer, Mishari Sawan, Yaqoub Asiri, Mohammad Al-Balushi, Mishal Taha, and Ali Safar.

Kuwait Club, meanwhile, has renewed the contract of Montenegrin professional Vladan Lipovina and signed Bahraini Mohammad Habib. Management is continuing its efforts to further strengthen the squad with additional quality additions.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff