Asrar Al-Jassem

RIYADH, Nov 12: Kuwait’s national karate team delivered an impressive performance at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 7 to 21, featuring teams from across the Islamic world. The team secured three medals, highlighting their skill and dedication:

Mohammad Al-Moussawi claimed the silver medal in the Kata final after a closely contested match against Turkey’s Enes Ozdemir, finishing 41-43.

Earlier, Abdullah Shaaban also secured a silver medal in the 60-kg Kumite competition, adding to Kuwait’s medal tally.

In the women’s category, Asrar Al-Jassem earned a bronze medal in the Kumite contest, marking another proud moment for the Kuwaiti karate team. marking Kuwait’s first-ever female karate medal in the history of the Games.

Dalal Al-Saeed finished fourth in Kata, narrowly missing the podium, while Omar Al-Junay’i advanced to the final in Kumite under 75 kg.

Kuwait’s national esports team also reached the Rocket League finals, securing a medal through champions Youssef Al-Mutairi, Abdullah Al-Shammari, and Mohammed Al-Mutairi, reflecting the country’s growing presence in competitive gaming.

The Kuwaiti national handball team has arrived in Riyadh with a 16-player squad, including Abdullah Al-Khamis, Saud Dhuwaihi, Haidar Dashti, Saif Al-Adwani, Youssef Najm, Fawaz Al-Meshari, Ali Nasser, Hamoud Al-Adwani, Abdulaziz Salmeen, Abdulrahman Al-Shammari, Saleh Al-Mousawi, Ali Safar, Hasan Safar, Mohammed Al-Sanea, Hussein Al-Mutawa, and Mohammed Buayab. The delegation is supported by Icelandic coach Aron Kristangus, his assistant Hein Ernst, and administrative staff Khaled Mohammed Ghuloom and Abdulaziz Al-Zuabi.

The team will open its campaign against Bahrain on Friday, November 14, followed by Iraq on Sunday, November 16, and concluding against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 18.

The coaching staff aims to demonstrate Kuwait’s progress in handball while preparing for future competitions, particularly the Asian Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup.

In preparation for the Games, the team trained in Tunisia, participating in an international friendly tournament with Tunisia, Guinea, and Iran, focusing on tactical strategies and refining both defensive and offensive systems ahead of the competition.