Kuwait will kick off its main round campaign in the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship against Iraq at 6 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex, Arab Times reported. This opening match in Group A launches the team’s effort to secure a place at the 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany by advancing through the semifinals. Japan faces South Korea at noon in the same group, with the United Arab Emirates meeting Bahrain at 2 p.m. and Saudi Arabia playing Qatar at 4 p.m. in Group B.
Arab Times outlined that the top two teams from each main round group will qualify for the semifinals and one of the four World Cup spots available from the Asian event running through Jan. 29. Kuwait is aiming to overcome Iraq as its first hurdle while moving closer to the semifinals and continuing to compete for the championship. Iraq looks to disrupt the hosts’ ambitions with an early upset in what the newspaper described as a key opening contest.
Asian Handball Federation President Badr Al-Dhiab lauded the high level of organization and the quality of play in the 22nd Asian Championship, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper. He expressed confidence in Kuwait’s ability to host such a major continental event, highlighting the strong capabilities demonstrated by the country’s youth in previous sports events. Al-Dhiab added that the organizers provided all necessary resources to ensure the tournament’s success, noting that all participating teams and officials expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and management.
The report indicated that this satisfaction has been recognized by both the Asian and International Handball Federations. Several Gulf and Arab media outlets have praised the Asian Handball Media Center for its role in delivering outstanding coverage of the championship. Jordanian journalist Mohammed Al-Jaloudi said Kuwait organized a world-class edition of the tournament, reflecting long-term institutional planning and the professionalism of its technical and administrative teams.
He added that the media center staff worked tirelessly, providing constant updates and comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the championship, in comments carried by Arab Times. Saudi sports journalist Zuhair Al-Dhamin also commended the media center headed by Handball Federation member Mishal Al-Qabandi, noting that it greatly facilitated journalists and photographers covering the event. Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Baqal praised the organizing and media committees for their meticulous attention to detail, which enabled media professionals to present the championship effectively to regional and international audiences.
Abdullah Al-Mutairi, presenter at Tel Golf Sports Events Company, highlighted his company’s role in providing logistical and operational support before, during and after matches. This includes player and team announcements, the closing ceremony and awards distribution, he emphasized in the Arab Times article. Such contributions form a key part of the media coverage and add to the tournament’s overall success.
International Handball Federation figures show Kuwait has competed in the World Championship on 10 occasions, with a best result of 15th place in the 1982 edition. The Kuwaiti side has claimed the Asian title four times, according to federation data from prior tournaments. As the fourth-time host of the Asian Championship, Kuwait is leveraging home advantage in a competition that determines four qualifiers for the 2027 World Championship in Germany.
