KUNA photo A group photo of the Minister of Information and Culture, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, with the national team players and the administrative and technical staff of the team.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 15: The national junior handball team received a warm and official welcome at Kuwait International Airport’s VIP lounge upon its return from Amman, Jordan, where it secured the bronze medal at the 10th Asian Championship after beating Saudi Arabia 30-26. In the final match, Japan emerged as the champion, defeating South Korea 26-24. The match was officiated by Kuwaiti international referees Dalal Al-Naseem and Maali Al-Enezi.

The delegation was greeted by the Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi; the Director General of Public Authority for Sports, Bashar Abdullah; and members of the Handball Federation Board of Directors. Al-Mutairi extended his congratulations to Kuwait's youth handball team for securing the bronze medal at the 10th Asian Championship and earning a spot in the 2025 World Handball Championship in Slovenia.

In a press statement, Minister Al-Mutairi celebrated the team's achievement as a testament to its exceptional performance throughout the tournament. The Minister praised the Kuwaiti team for its hard work and discipline, which reflect the collaborative spirit and professionalism of Kuwaiti federations and clubs. Abdullah congratulated the players and expressed his best wishes for their continued success and further achievements.

Assistant Secretary-General of the Handball Federation, Abdullah Al-Dhiyab, dedicated the achievement to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and to the Kuwaiti people and the players' families. He highlighted the team’s journey from its successes at the Asian Games in China to its qualification for the 2025 World Cup in Croatia, Norway, and Denmark, and now the World Cup in Egypt.

Kuwait Handball Federation member Talal Zaid Al-Otaibi expressed his gratitude to the players for their performance that led to the World Cup qualification. He also thanked the political leadership and government for their support of Kuwaiti sports and handball, including Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, the Director General of Public Authority for Sports, the Board of Directors of the Federation, and everyone who supported the junior team. He affirmed confidence in a bright future for Kuwaiti handball.

Captain Hussein Mandani expressed pride in the team's performance, noting their strong competition and successful qualification for the Junior Handball World Cup set for Slovenia in 2025.

The final standings were as follows: Saudi Arabia in fourth place, Bahrain fifth, Iran sixth, and Jordan seventh. Kuwaiti player Youssef Madouh was named the best player in the match against Saudi Arabia.