Kuwaiti players pose for a group photo before playing Libya.

KUWAIT CITY, July 16: The Kuwaiti national volleyball team wrapped up its training camp in Tunisia and is scheduled to arrive in Bahrain today to take part in the inaugural West Asian Volleyball Championship, which begins tomorrow and runs through July 26.

During the camp, Kuwait played three friendly matches — securing victories against Tunisia and Algeria, while losing their final match against Libya 3-1.

The training camp successfully achieved its main objectives, particularly improving player readiness and fostering on-court cohesion. Under the guidance of Argentine head coach Julian Alvarez and assistant coach Zaid Al-Kazemi, the technical staff focused on boosting team chemistry, tactical understanding, and building the experience of the squad, which includes several promising young players.

The squad features 14 players: Abdulaziz Najm, Yousef Mandil, Fahad Saad, Abdulnasser Al-Enezi, Abdullah Al-Enezi, Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa, Saud Al-Duwisan, Ahmed Al-Munayyes, Rashid Anbar, Athbi Malik, Fares Suleiman, Talal Abdulrazzaq, Ibrahim Mandil, and Abdulrahman Mohammed.

Kuwait has been placed in Group A, alongside Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, while Group B includes Bahrain (the host), Jordan, the UAE, and Lebanon.

Kuwait’s campaign begins tomorrow against Oman, followed by a matchup with Saudi Arabia the next day. The team will then conclude its group stage fixtures on Monday with a crucial match against Qatar.

The championship was initially scheduled for last year but was postponed to this summer in coordination with the International Volleyball Federation to ensure its inclusion in the official world rankings. According to Mohammed Salem Al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the West Asian Volleyball Federation, this move aims to elevate the status of the participating teams and provide them with valuable technical and motivational momentum.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff