Latest news with #KuwaitHandballAssociation
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
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait eyes glory as 10th Arab Handball Championship gets underway
KUWAIT CITY, May 4: The 10th edition of the Arab Men's Handball Championship officially begins today at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex Hall in Sabah Al-Salem. The tournament, running through May 11, features nine participating teams divided into three groups: Group A: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq Group C: Kuwait, UAE, Morocco Group B: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia According to tournament regulations, the top team from each group and the best second-placed team will qualify for the semi-finals. The championship opens with three first-round clashes: Iraq vs. Bahrain at 3:00 pm Qatar vs. Saudi Arabia at 5:00 pm Kuwait vs. Morocco at 7:00 pm The second and third rounds of the preliminary stage will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Tournament Director and Secretary General of the Kuwait Handball Association, Qaid Al-Adwani, urged fans to rally behind the national team in its first match of the tournament. 'We are proud to host the 10th Arab Men's Handball Championship on Kuwaiti soil once again,' Al-Adwani said. 'This event reflects the unwavering support of our political leadership, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and the Public Authority for Sports.' He emphasized the national team's recent achievements and the importance of fan support ahead of the upcoming Asian Championship, which will serve as the qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, also to be hosted by Kuwait. Al-Adwani also praised Kuwait's long-standing legacy in organizing major regional and continental sports events. He thanked the organizing committees for their dedicated efforts over the past weeks and expressed his hope for a successful and well-run tournament. This is the first Arab Men's Handball Championship since 2002. Past winners include: Egypt: 1975, 1977 Kuwait: 1979, 1988 Tunisia: 1986, 1993 Saudi Arabia: 1988 Algeria: 2000 Bahrain: 2002 Kuwait aims to recapture glory as the championship returns to the "Land of Friendship and Peace."
Arab Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Shahoumi honors youth team for World Cup qualification
KUWAIT CITY, April 22: Former President of the Kuwait Handball Association, Ahmed Al-Shahoumi, honored the national youth handball team in celebration of its qualification for the World Cup finals. He emphasized that recognizing such achievements is a national responsibility, one that plays a vital role in motivating young athletes to continue striving for excellence and to proudly represent Kuwait on the international stage. Al-Shahoumi stated, 'I have full confidence in the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Handball Association, as well as in the players and the technical and administrative staff. I know they will exert every effort to support this promising team. My message to them is clear: simply reaching the World Cup finals should no longer be seen as the ultimate goal. We must now aim higher—to consistently compete on global platforms.' He continued, 'To the players, I say this: do not fall into the trap of believing that merely playing against international teams is the achievement. You are just as capable, talented, and deserving as any opponent you will face. The first key to success is believing in yourselves.' For his part, Qaid Al-Adwani, Secretary General of the Kuwait Handball Federation, expressed his gratitude for Al-Shahoumi's unwavering support, stating, 'We sincerely thank Ahmed Al-Shahoumi for standing by our national teams and players. His commitment to Kuwaiti handball is well known and deeply appreciated.' He added, 'We pledge to do everything within our power to meet expectations and represent Kuwait honorably at the World Cup finals.'
Arab Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Talib expresses confidence in Kuwait's youth team ahead of World Cup
CAIRO, April 15: Khaled Talib, Treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Association and head of the Kuwaiti junior team delegation, expressed strong confidence in the team ahead of its participation in the 2025 IHF Men's Youth World Championship, despite being drawn into a challenging Group A alongside handball powerhouses Sweden, Portugal, and Austria. The official draw for the tournament was held in Cairo, with 32 teams set to compete from August 6 to 17 in Egypt. Notably, six Arab nations will take part: Egypt (host), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Kuwait. World Cup Groupings: Group A: Kuwait, Sweden, Portugal, Austria Group B: Hungary, Switzerland, Morocco, Kosovo Group C: Serbia, Spain, Croatia, Algeria Group D: Iceland, Brazil, Guinea, Saudi Arabia Group F: Germany, Slovenia, Uruguay, Faroe Islands Group G: Norway, France, Argentina, Mexico Group H: Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Bahrain Group I: Denmark, Tunisia, USA, Czech Republic This marks Kuwait's second appearance in the U-19 Handball World Cup, after debuting in Tunisia 2009, where it finished 19th. Talib acknowledged the difficulty of facing elite European teams, renowned for their strength and experience, but emphasized Kuwait's solid preparation. The team recently gained valuable experience by competing in the Mediterranean International Friendly Championship against teams such as Tunisia, Italy, Greece, and Montenegro. He added that continued participation in continental competitions will further strengthen the team and help elevate the standard of Kuwaiti handball. Talib also expressed hope that the players will make Kuwaiti fans proud, especially given the strong support they've received from the local community and federation.
Arab Times
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait strengthens sports reputation with hosting of 10th Arab Handball Cup
KUWAIT CITY, March 13: Qaid Al-Adwani, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Handball Association, confirmed that Kuwait will host the 10th Arab Handball Cup next May, aligning with the political leadership's vision to make Kuwait a hub for Arab, continental, and international sports events. This move is part of ongoing efforts to develop Kuwaiti sports, particularly handball. The announcement followed the Arab Handball Federation's approval to hold the 10th edition of the Arab Handball Cup for men's national teams in Kuwait from May 4 to 12, coinciding with the International Handball Federation Week. Al-Adwani expressed his gratitude for the tremendous support of Kuwaiti sports from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. This support has driven Kuwait's decision to host international tournaments that will showcase the country's bright image. He also thanked the Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, and Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sports, Bashar Abdullah, for their ongoing commitment to bringing these events to fruition. Al-Adwani also highlighted Kuwait's recent success in securing the bid to host the 2026 Asian Cup, set to begin on January 20. The announcement of hosting the Arab Handball Cup comes after a 23-year gap, with the last edition held in 2002. Khaled Talib, Treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Association, explained that the Association's decision to bid for the Arab Championship was fueled by the national team's strong performance at the recent World Cup finals. He added that hosting the tournament in Kuwait would boost the country's profile as a capable organizer of major sporting events. Talib emphasized the high level of competition in the tournament, which will feature top teams such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, and other Arab teams with star players and experienced technical staff. He assured that the Kuwaiti national team was fully prepared for the tournament. Additionally, Talib confirmed that the Kuwait Handball Association is in the process of hiring a new coach for the national team to better understand the players' strengths and strategies ahead of the upcoming Asian Championship. This step is part of the Federation's goal to elevate the national team to the highest level. The Arab Handball Cup has been held nine times previously. Egypt won the first and second editions, Kuwait claimed victories in the third and fifth editions, Tunisia won the fourth and sixth editions, Saudi Arabia triumphed in the seventh, and Algeria took the eighth. Bahrain is the most recent titleholder, having won the tournament in 2002 in Jordan.
