Kuwait U-19 handball team heads to Slovenia and Croatia for a training camp

15/06/2026

KUWAIT CITY, June 15: Kuwait’s national U-19 handball team departs this morning for Slovenia and Croatia to begin a two-week training camp as part of its preparations for the Asian Men's Youth Handball Championship, scheduled to be held in China next month. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men's Youth World Championship in North Macedonia.

The delegation is led by Acting President of the Kuwait Handball Association, Shabib Al-Hajri, alongside Secretary General Qaed Al-Adwani and team manager Yousef Shaheen. The squad will be guided by head coach Heine Jensen, assistant coach Musaed Mefreh, performance analyst Ayman Al-Sheikh, goalkeeping coach Yassine Idrissi, physiotherapist Mehdi El Bakouch, and 23 players.

Al-Hajri stressed that the team is fully committed to reaching the highest levels of technical and physical readiness ahead of the continental event, particularly after the recent interruption to sporting activities caused by regional security developments.

He acknowledged the challenges awaiting the team in the Asian championship. Still, he expressed confidence in the players and coaching staff, noting that all efforts are currently focused on making up for lost preparation time and ensuring the team is ready to compete at its best.

He added that the squad includes several talented and promising players who are following an intensive training schedule featuring morning and evening sessions. The objective, he said, is to maximize the team’s readiness and enable Kuwait to deliver a strong performance and proudly represent the nation on the Asian stage.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff