In this file photo, a player attempts a shot on goal while an opponent tries to block the attempt.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 18: Kuwait’s U-17 kicks off the main round of the Asian qualifiers for the inaugural U-17 Handball World Cup today at 3:00 PM in Jordan, facing Iran. The team will meet Qatar tomorrow at 7:00 PM and conclude the group stage on Sunday against the host nation, Jordan.

The team advanced from the preliminary round after a 48-21 win over Hong Kong and a narrow 30-31 loss to Bahrain, securing a place in the main round to compete for a spot in the Morocco World Cup, scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 2. The Kuwaiti delegation includes head coach Ivan Dragic, assistant Khaled Al-Mulla, goalkeeper coach Marwan Maqayez, physiotherapist Hani Al-Dawas, and 18 players, under the supervision of Handball Federation Secretary Khaled Taleb.

The 40th Arab Handball Clubs Championship for league and cup winners reaches the semifinals tomorrow at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The quarterfinals saw Al-Ahly Bank (Egypt) advance with a 42-17 win over Al-Shabab (Syria), while Kuwait Club, Kazma, Al-Sulaibikhat, and Naft Al-Basra also moved through to the semifinals.

The preliminary round yielded 1,148 goals, with a shooting rate of 59.5%.

Former Handball Federation President Ahmed Al-Shahoumi praised the participation of three Kuwaiti clubs as a vital opportunity for experience and exposure, expressing hope that at least two Kuwaiti teams reach the podium. He also acknowledged Fadel Al-Nimr and Khaled Al-Ghanem for hosting the championship, which marked the return of Syrian clubs—Al-Shabab, Al-Talia’a, and Al-Nawaeer—to international competitions after a long absence.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff