Mishaal Al-Qabandi

KUWAIT CITY, April 30: Mishaal Al-Qabandi, Member of the Board of Directors of the Handball Federation and Head of the Media Committee, has confirmed Kuwait's readiness to host the upcoming Arab Handball Championship, set to take place at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex from May 5 to 11. The tournament will coincide with the International Handball Federation Week.

A total of nine teams will compete in the Arab Championship, divided into three groups: Kuwait (host), Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

Al-Qabandi highlighted that the Handball Federation has conducted several meetings with the Public Authority for Sports, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Health to ensure smooth coordination and address any challenges. This collaborative effort aims to deliver a championship that reflects the high standards of Kuwaiti sports, particularly in handball.

"We have received full support from key figures in Kuwaiti sports, including the Minister of Information and Culture, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, the acting Director of the Sports Authority, Bashar Abdullah, and officials from the Ministries of Interior and Health. They have assured their commitment to organizing the Arab Cup in an exemplary manner," Al-Qabandi said.

He further added that the tournament committees are working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly, with a rehearsal planned for the tournament's opening just days before it begins.

Al-Qabandi also expressed his gratitude to the members of the Handball Federation's Board of Directors and its entire staff for their dedication since Kuwait was selected to host this prestigious event. His thanks extended to those involved in the preparation for Kuwait's next major event, the 22nd Asian Championship (2027 World Cup Qualifiers), which will take place in January 2026.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff