Kuwaiti players celebrate their victory over UAE.

KUWAIT CITY, May 8: Kuwait’s national handball team faces a pivotal challenge at 7:00 pm today when it meets Bahrain in the semi-finals of the 10th Arab Handball Cup, hosted at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The tournament runs through May 11.

Earlier in the day, the other semi-final will see a highly anticipated clash between Qatar and Egypt at 5:00 pm.

As part of the classification rounds (5th–9th place), two matches are scheduled earlier in the day. Tunisia will take on Morocco at 1:00 pm, followed by Saudi Arabia against Iraq at 3:00 pm.

Kuwait enters the semi-final with momentum, aiming for a third consecutive victory to secure a place in Sunday’s final. Backed by home support and the advantage of playing on familiar turf, the Kuwaiti team hopes to overcome a tough and determined Bahraini side, also eager to reach the final.

Bahrain, on its part, will rely on a quick transition game and solid teamwork under coach Predrag. Veteran players Hussein Al-Sayyad and goalkeeper Mohammed Abdul-Hussein are expected to lead the effort against the host.

In the second semi-final, Group B leader Qatar will count on a blend of youth and experience to push past Egypt and reach the final. Egypt, which advanced as the best second-placed team, is looking to bounce back from a group stage loss to Bahrain and challenge Qatar for a place in the championship match.

Qaid Al-Adwani, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Handball Federation and Director of the 10th Arab Cup, confirmed that the final will take place as scheduled on Sunday at 7:00 pm.

He explained that the tournament dates were selected to align with International Handball Federation Week and the calendar of the Arab Handball Federation. The final will coincide with the Premier League football title decider on the same day.

“There is coordination with the Kuwait Football Association,” Al-Adwani noted. “However, due to schedule constraints on both sides, Sunday remained the only viable option for the handball final.”

Players of Kuwait’s national team expressed joy following their win over the UAE in the final group stage match, which secured their top spot in Group C and a semi-final berth.

Star player Abdulaziz Al-Shammari remarked, “Winning two matches, topping the group, and reaching the semi-finals is the least we can offer Kuwait and its loyal fans. We are proud to host the Arab Handball Cup in Kuwait for the first time in 23 years — in the land of friendship and peace.”

Goalkeeper Hassan Safar added, “Our true joy lies in bringing happiness to our loyal fans who have supported us from the start. We call on them to fill the stands tonight and back us against Bahrain.”