Kuwait volleyball season resumes Oct 22 as Arab U-17 Championship begins in Bahrain

Kuwait U-17 team coach talks to players during training session.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 8:  The Kuwait Volleyball Federation will resume the 2025-26 domestic season on Oct. 22, following the conclusion of the Arab Volleyball Championship in Bahrain, scheduled for Oct. 8-18.

The decision was taken at the federation’s latest board meeting to allow the Kuwait national team to compete in the Arab championship before domestic competitions resume. The remaining local fixtures had previously been postponed due to the prevailing situation in the region.

Federation Secretary-General Talal Al-Nimsh said the Arab Volleyball Federation had officially confirmed the tournament dates, prompting the federation to meet with the national team’s technical staff, headed by Argentine coach Julian and assistant coach Zaid Al-Kadhimi, to finalize the preparation program.

Al-Nimsh said the interests of the national team made it necessary to delay the resumption of domestic competitions until after the Arab championship. Preparations for the tournament are scheduled to begin in early September.

He added that the federation would coordinate with the Public Authority for Sport to arrange an overseas training camp ahead of the championship, to ensure the players reach the tournament in optimal condition.

“We want to ensure the national team is fully prepared and able to deliver a performance that reflects the standing of Kuwaiti volleyball at the Arab level,” Al-Nimsh said, wishing the team success in its upcoming commitments.

Meanwhile, the second Arab U-17 Championship gets underway today in Bahrain and will run through Aug. 17, featuring six national teams.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Algeria will compete in a single round-robin preliminary stage, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.

Kuwait opens its campaign against Saudi Arabia today. The other opening-day matches see Jordan face Egypt and Algeria take on hosts Bahrain.

The Blues will meet Egypt tomorrow, Bahrain on Wednesday, and Jordan on Friday before completing the preliminary round against Algeria on Aug. 16.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff