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Kuwait Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Qatar win 10th Arab Handball Cup after beating Bahrain 25-22
Kuwait ranked third after defeating Egypt KUWAIT: Qatar's team were crowned champions of the 10th Arab Handball Cup tourney after outrivaling Bahrain 25-22 in the final on Sunday. The game held at Kuwait's Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex was marked with an accelerated pace amid caution from the two teams, and the first half ended 12-11 in favor of Qatar. In the second half, Bahrain's players attempted to take the lead, however Qataris continued pushing the results ahead, winning the match with 25-22 goals. At the end of the championship, hosted by Kuwait during the period May 5-11, head of Arab Handball Federation (AHF) Fadhel Al-Nimr said Kuwait is a leading country in terms of organizing such Arab events. In an inclusive statement to KUNA, Al-Nimr highlighted that Kuwait's efficiency to host any tourney shows its political leadership's backing to sports. Kuwait takes the third position. — KUNA photos Runners-up Bahrain team. He thanked Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sports Bashar Abdullah and all officials for this successful organization of the championship. In a statement to KUNA, Talal Al-Otaibi, a member of AHF's Executive Bureau and Kuwait Handball Association, hailed the strenuous efforts of the organizers and audience's attendance. The event also was successful in terms of the technical levels of teams, he said, thanking minister Al-Mutairi and all sports officials. On the closing day of the event, Kuwait ranked third after defeating Egypt 29-25, while Saudi Arabia and Iraq came fifth and sixth respectively. — KUNA


Arab Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Qatar wins Arab Cup as Kuwait clinches third
KUWAIT CITY, May 12, (KUNA): Qatar's handball team emerged as champions of the 10th Arab Handball Cup after defeating Bahrain 25-22 in a thrilling final. The match, held at Kuwait's Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex, was marked by a high-paced, tactical contest between the two teams, with Qatar leading 12-11 at halftime. In the second half, Bahrain made a determined push to take the lead, but Qatar maintained their momentum and secured the 25-22 victory. After the championship, which took place in Kuwait from May 5-11, Fadhel Al-Nimr, head of the Arab Handball Federation (AHF), praised Kuwait for its excellent organization of the tournament, recognizing the country as a leader in hosting such Arab sporting events. Al-Nimr also credited Kuwait's political leadership for its strong support of sports, thanking Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sports Bashar Abdullah, and all officials involved in making the championship a success. Talal Al-Otaibi, a member of the AHF's Executive Bureau and the Kuwait Handball Association, also commended the organizers and the enthusiastic support from the audience. He highlighted the technical quality of the teams and expressed gratitude to Minister Al-Mutairi and other sports officials for their contributions. In the third-place match, Kuwait edged Egypt 29-25. The first half ended in a draw, but Kuwait delivered an impressive second-half performance to seal the win. Saif Al-Adwani of Kuwait was named Best Player of the Match. Earlier in the tournament, Tunisia defeated the UAE in the placement matches for positions five to nine, while Iraq claimed victory over Morocco.


Arab Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait seeks Arab Handball Cup final spot against Bahrain
KUWAIT CITY, May 8: Kuwait's national handball team faces a pivotal challenge at 7:00 pm today when it meets Bahrain in the semi-finals of the 10th Arab Handball Cup, hosted at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The tournament runs through May 11. Earlier in the day, the other semi-final will see a highly anticipated clash between Qatar and Egypt at 5:00 pm. As part of the classification rounds (5th–9th place), two matches are scheduled earlier in the day. Tunisia will take on Morocco at 1:00 pm, followed by Saudi Arabia against Iraq at 3:00 pm. Kuwait enters the semi-final with momentum, aiming for a third consecutive victory to secure a place in Sunday's final. Backed by home support and the advantage of playing on familiar turf, the Kuwaiti team hopes to overcome a tough and determined Bahraini side, also eager to reach the final. Bahrain, on its part, will rely on a quick transition game and solid teamwork under coach Predrag. Veteran players Hussein Al-Sayyad and goalkeeper Mohammed Abdul-Hussein are expected to lead the effort against the host. In the second semi-final, Group B leader Qatar will count on a blend of youth and experience to push past Egypt and reach the final. Egypt, which advanced as the best second-placed team, is looking to bounce back from a group stage loss to Bahrain and challenge Qatar for a place in the championship match. Qaid Al-Adwani, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Handball Federation and Director of the 10th Arab Cup, confirmed that the final will take place as scheduled on Sunday at 7:00 pm. He explained that the tournament dates were selected to align with International Handball Federation Week and the calendar of the Arab Handball Federation. The final will coincide with the Premier League football title decider on the same day. 'There is coordination with the Kuwait Football Association,' Al-Adwani noted. 'However, due to schedule constraints on both sides, Sunday remained the only viable option for the handball final.' Players of Kuwait's national team expressed joy following their win over the UAE in the final group stage match, which secured their top spot in Group C and a semi-final berth. Star player Abdulaziz Al-Shammari remarked, 'Winning two matches, topping the group, and reaching the semi-finals is the least we can offer Kuwait and its loyal fans. We are proud to host the Arab Handball Cup in Kuwait for the first time in 23 years — in the land of friendship and peace.' Goalkeeper Hassan Safar added, 'Our true joy lies in bringing happiness to our loyal fans who have supported us from the start. We call on them to fill the stands tonight and back us against Bahrain.'


Arab Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Egypt coach praises Kuwait's world-class organization of 10th Arab Handball Cup
KUWAIT CITY, May 5: The tenth edition of the Arab Handball Cup, hosted by Kuwait until May 11, continues today with three exciting group stage matches in the second round. Tunisia will face Qatar in Group B at 3:00 pm. At 5:00 pm, Morocco takes on the UAE in a Group C clash. The day concludes at 7:00 pm with a Group A showdown between Egypt and Iraq. Talal Al-Otaibi, member of the Kuwait Handball Association and the Executive Office of the Arab Handball Federation, praised the level of competition and the enthusiasm shown by all participating Arab nations. Al-Otaibi noted that the technical performance is expected to rise in the second round, as teams intensify preparations for upcoming regional and international tournaments. He expressed gratitude to Kuwait's sports leadership, particularly Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi and Acting Director of the Public Authority for Sports Bashar Abdullah, for their commitment to supporting the tournament. He also thanked the Arab Handball Federation for entrusting Kuwait with hosting duties. Yousef Al-Muallem, Director of National Teams at the Qatar Handball Federation, confirmed that Al-Annabi came with a balanced team of youth and experience, aiming to compete seriously for the championship title. He acknowledged the strength of the opposition and pledged that his players would give their best. Ahmed Al-Najem, administrator of the Bahraini national team, said the team is using the Arab Championship as key preparation for the Asian Cup. He noted the technical staff is closely monitoring player performance and readiness. Magdy Abu Al-Majd, coach of the Egyptian youth team, praised Kuwait's exceptional organization and hospitality, citing it as one of the reasons behind Egypt's participation. 'Kuwait has the entire necessary infrastructure, and the tournament's preparation is top-tier,' Abu Al-Majd said. 'It feels like we're participating in a World Cup-level event.'


Arab Times
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Fakher Al-Ghashi: Kuwait is the ideal host for Arab Handball Cup
KUWAIT CITY, March 15: Secretary-General of the Arab Handball Federation, Fakher Al-Ghashi, affirmed that Kuwait is the ideal host for the 10th edition of the Arab Men's Handball Cup, set to take place from May 4 to 12. Speaking to Al-Seyassah, Al-Ghashi stated, "We aim to make this tournament exceptional in every aspect, which is why Kuwait was the best choice. The country has a strong reputation for hosting top-tier sporting events, most recently the 26th Gulf Cup Football Championship, which was a resounding success. Additionally, the Asian Handball Federation has entrusted Kuwait with hosting the Asian Championship next January." Expressing pride in the Arab nations' enthusiasm for the tournament's return after a 22-year hiatus, Al-Ghashi expressed hope that more than 10 countries will participate. He further noted, "I anticipate fierce competition in the Arab Cup, particularly given the continued organization of junior and youth championships. This event also presents a crucial opportunity for teams to evaluate their players and coaches ahead of the 2026 tournaments." Al-Ghashi extended his gratitude to the Arab Handball Federation, led by Fadel Al-Nimr, along with his deputies and members, for their trust in him and for granting him the responsibility of overseeing the tournament. He also confirmed that the Arab Federation will cover the participating teams' expenses. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Riyadh, the Arab Handball Federation consists of 16 member federations. The Arab Handball Cup has been contested nine times previously, with past champions including Egypt (1975, 1977), Kuwait (1979, 1988), Tunisia (1986, 1993), Saudi Arabia (1998), Algeria (2000), and Bahrain, who won the most recent edition in 2002.