Kuwait’s national handball team was eliminated from medal contention at the 2026 Asian Games after a 37-32 loss to Japan in the quarterfinals held in Nagoya on September 26. Following the defeat, Kuwait will face China in the classification matches for fifth to eighth place.

The match saw Japan take an early lead, capitalizing on several attacking mistakes by Kuwait. The host nation surged ahead to a 9-3 advantage within the first 15 minutes and maintained control for much of the game. A key factor was Japan’s effectiveness in fast-break situations, scoring 11 goals on the counterattack compared to Kuwait’s four. Additionally, Japan’s defensive strategy, utilizing a 6-0 formation, successfully limited Kuwait’s wing players and disrupted the team’s primary offensive options.

Despite the early deficit, Kuwait fought back in the latter stages of the match, narrowing the gap to three goals at 35-32. However, Japan managed to withstand the pressure and finished strong to secure a five-goal victory.

Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, Qatar defeated Iran 31-25, while South Korea overcame China 32-26, advancing to the semifinals alongside Japan and Qatar.