Zaid Talal Al-Otaibi stands out as a key player for the Kuwait U-17 national team.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 11: Kuwait’s national under-17 handball team will depart for Amman, Jordan, tomorrow to compete in the Asian qualifiers for the inaugural Under-17 Handball World Cup. The qualifiers run from September 15 to 25, with the World Cup scheduled in Morocco from October 24 to November 1.

Kuwait opens its campaign against Hong Kong at 3:00 PM on Monday, followed by a match against Bahrain at 1:00 PM on Wednesday. The team has been drawn into Group A for the competition.

The delegation is led by Handball Federation Secretary Khaled Taleb and includes administrator Hussein Siywan, head coach Ivan Dragić, assistant coach Khaled Al-Mulla, goalkeeper coach Marwan Muqayez, and physiotherapist Hani Al-Dawas.

Coach Dragić confirmed that the squad consists of 18 players. While a few have minor injuries, the technical staff is working to ensure full fitness ahead of the opening match. He also highlighted the team’s preparation during training camps in Croatia and Slovenia, where friendly matches improved both their technical and physical readiness.

Dragić acknowledged that the Asian qualifiers will be challenging, but expressed confidence that the team can rise to the occasion and secure one of the coveted spots for the Morocco World Cup.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff