Kuwait's men's junior handball team secured qualification for the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Men’s Junior Handball Championship on Tuesday following a narrow 30-29 victory over Qatar in Suzhou, China. The tightly contested match, part of the preliminary round, saw Kuwait hold on to a one-goal lead to confirm their progression to the next stage of the tournament.

The win brought Kuwait's points total to six, placing them third in Group B behind South Korea and Japan, with one preliminary match remaining against the United Arab Emirates. The team’s earlier results included a commanding 47-15 win over India, a close 30-29 victory against Japan, and a 34-28 loss to South Korea. Kuwait aims to build on their current momentum as they enter the main round, which carries significant importance since the championship serves as a qualifying event for the 2027 World Men’s Junior Handball Championship in North Macedonia.

Group B consists of Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Qatar, India, and the UAE, while Group A includes China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong. The top four teams from the tournament will earn spots in the 2027 World Championship.

Kuwait and Qatar are regarded as two of the most successful teams in the competition’s history, each having won the title five times. Kuwait’s victory over Qatar was marked by resilience and concentration, qualities praised by Qaed Al-Adwani, secretary general of the Kuwait Handball Association. He highlighted the team's technical skills and mental toughness as key factors in their successful campaign thus far and emphasized the federation’s commitment to providing strong preparation for the players ahead of international contests.

The final round of the preliminary phase also featured matches including Saudi Arabia versus Hong Kong, Qatar against India, Oman facing Chinese Taipei, Bahrain taking on China, and South Korea playing Japan. Kuwait’s focus now shifts to their upcoming game against the UAE, aiming to secure another win to enter the main round with confidence and continue their pursuit of the championship title. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on July 27.