05-05-2025
Iraq handball team arrives in Kuwait for Arab Championship
Kuwait City ( – The Iraqi national men's handball team arrived in Kuwait on Sunday (May 4, 2025) ahead of the 10th Arab Men's Handball Championship, which kicks off today, Monday, May 5th, and runs until May 11th.
The team traveled overland from Basra after concluding a 12-day training camp under Croatian head coach Goran Petković, who deemed the preparation 'ideal.' This followed an earlier camp in Sulaymaniyah.
Iraq faces a significant challenge in the nine-nation tournament, having been drawn into a tough Group 1 alongside regional powerhouses Egypt and Bahrain – dubbed a group of death by Iraqi Handball Federation President Ahmed Riad. Coach Petković acknowledged the strength of their opponents but expressed confidence in his players' ability to compete and gain valuable experience.
Iraq begins their campaign against Bahrain today (Monday, May 5th), followed by a clash with Egypt on Tuesday (May 6th). While aiming for positive results in Kuwait, Petković emphasized the tournament serves as crucial preparation for the ultimate goal: the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup, starting early next year.
