Kuwait secured a spot in the fifth-place playoff at the 11th Asian Junior Handball Championship following a narrow 25-23 victory over host nation Jordan in the placement round on August 29 in Amman. Abdulhadi Barak, a standout player for Kuwait, earned the Player of the Match award for his significant contribution, presented by Asian Handball Federation Technical Director Jassem Al-Dhayab.
With the win, Kuwait advanced to face the winner of the Saudi Arabia versus Uzbekistan matchup in the fifth-sixth place playoff scheduled for the final day of the tournament. The Kuwaiti team aims to finish the championship in fifth place after their hopes of reaching the semi-finals were dashed by a 36-28 loss to South Korea in the quarter-finals. That defeat also ended Kuwait’s chances of qualifying for the 2027 World Youth Handball Championship.
The semi-final lineup is comprised of Bahrain, Qatar, Iran, and South Korea. Bahrain secured a 30-28 victory over Saudi Arabia, while Qatar defeated Jordan 33-13. Iran overcame Uzbekistan with a 36-24 scoreline. These four teams not only progressed to the semi-finals but also booked their places in the upcoming 2027 World Championship.
Earlier in the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup, Kuwait posted a decisive 88-65 win over Nepal during the third round in Dubai. This victory brought Kuwait’s tally to five points with three wins, tying them with the United Arab Emirates at the top of the standings. Bahrain holds four points from two wins, with Oman and Nepal each on two points. Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain have all guaranteed their progression to the second qualifying window set for November.
Kuwait’s head coach, Vassilios Bratsiakos, commended his team’s performance against Nepal but noted ongoing challenges with injuries and player fitness. He highlighted the importance of a brief recovery period ahead of a crucial qualifier against Bahrain.
In domestic club developments, Al-Qadsia has bolstered its roster by signing Senegalese player Pape Boubacar Sarr and American Alfonso Wells to strengthen the team for the remainder of the current season and the upcoming campaign. They join American Wesley Alsegaier, who recently signed with the club. Additionally, Al-Qadsia appointed Turkish coach Murat Dökme as head coach for the new season, succeeding fellow Turk Ender Paşayer, whose contract expired after two seasons. The club commenced training earlier this month in preparation for the forthcoming competitions.