DOHA, Oct 22: The President of the International Handball Federation, Dr. Hassan Mustafa, has expressed his admiration for the remarkable progress achieved by the players of Kuwait national handball team in the recent Asian Games held in China. During this event, Kuwait secured a commendable third place and a coveted bronze medal, marking an end to a 17-year absence from the Asian podium. Dr. Mustafa also commended the team’s current participation in the Asian qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, currently taking place in the Qatari capital, Doha.

In an exclusive statement to Al-Seyassah, Hassan Mustafa acknowledged the relatively young age of most of the Kuwaiti players and their limited experience on the international stage. Despite this, they performed admirably, and Dr. Mustafa sees great potential in this team for the future. He emphasized Kuwait’s historical significance as one of the founders of handball in the Asian continent and the nation’s enduring legacy in the sport. Dr. Mustafa noted Kuwait unique identity, their transformation into a well-organized team under the guidance of a dedicated coach who meticulously orchestrated the players’ actions to execute predefined strategies.

This transformation bore fruit with the recent achievement of the Asian Cup bronze medal. He expressed his hope that the team would receive increased attention and support to sustain their excellence and growth, ultimately regaining their position as a leading force in the Asian handball landscape.

Dr. Mustafa also commended the exceptional organization by the Qatar Handball Federation in hosting the Asian qualifiers for the Paris Olympics, highlighting Qatar’s consistent commitment to excellence in the organizational aspects of sporting events. Additionally, Dr. Mustafa recognized the high standards of the teams participating in the Paris 2024 qualifiers, such as the resurgent Japanese team and the competitive Chinese squad.

He emphasized the International Federation’s dedication to supporting both lower-level and high-level countries to further enhance the sport’s global prominence.

Today, the Asian qualifying teams for the Paris Olympics will enjoy a day of rest, with the tournament set to resume its exciting competitions tomorrow.

In the upcoming round, Kuwait will face off against the Kazakh at eleven o’clock in the morning, marking the fourth and final round of the preliminary stage in the second group. In the same group, Bahrain will compete against Iran.

Meanwhile, in the first group, the Emirates will face India, China will play against Korea, and Qatar will meet Saudi Arabia.

On a separate note, Kuwait junior handball team secured a victory against their Bahraini counterparts with a final score of 30-23 in the second trial match between the two teams. This match was held at the Arena Mall in Sabah Al-Ahmad Marine City, following a previous tie with a score of 28-28 in the first trial. The Handball Federation aims to utilize these matches to prepare the junior team for future competitions and opportunities.

By Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff