Kuwait and South Korea players fighting for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 26: Following their qualification for the 2027 World Handball Championship in Germany, Kuwait is now aiming for the final of the 22nd Asian Handball Championship, currently taking place at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex.

Kuwait faces Qatar at 6:00 PM in the semifinals, while Bahrain meets Japan at 4:00 PM. Other placement matches include UAE vs Iraq for seventh place, Saudi Arabia vs South Korea for fifth, Australia vs Oman for 13th, and Iran vs Jordan for 11th, with India finishing 15th.

Acting President of the Kuwait Handball Federation, Shbeeb Al-Hajri, congratulated Kuwait’s leadership and people on the team’s historic tenth World Cup qualification, highlighting the critical support from the country’s leadership, the federation’s planning, the players’ hard work, and the fans’ unwavering backing.

Qaed Al-Adwani, Secretary of the Federation and Director of the 22nd Asian Championship, expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled, the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah, and Minister of Youth Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi for their continuous support, which enabled the team’s strong performance. Federation member Talal Zaid Al-Otaibi added that the team has proudly raised Kuwait’s flag at this continental tournament.

Head coach Aaron Christensen described the team’s victory over handball powerhouse South Korea as a major achievement, noting that the players overcame a first-half deficit (14–15) to dominate the second half and secure a deserved win. Goalkeeper Hassan Safar was named the match’s best player for his outstanding performance.

Player Abdullah Al-Khamis praised his teammates for exceeding expectations and acknowledged the fans’ strong support, while also thanking the federation and technical staff for their efforts in securing Kuwait’s World Cup berth. The team now looks forward to a tough semifinal clash against Qatar, aiming to reach the Asian Championship final.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff