The Kuwait Boxing Federation opened its 2026-27 season on September 26 by staging the first Junior Championship at its hall in Sabah Al-Salem, an event that ran through September 30 and featured competitors from various age groups. Federation president Abdullah Khaled Al-Otaibi said the tournament represented an early step in a broader calendar that includes 10 domestic events across age categories. Al-Otaibi added that the board has prioritised youth participation because those categories form the base for building future national squads. The competition offered young boxers their initial chances to gain experience under competitive conditions this season.
Al-Otaibi stated that the championship formed part of the federation’s plan to increase boxing activity at all levels while spotting athletes who can be groomed for international duties. “The championship is part of the federation’s plan for the new sports season. It will strengthen boxing’s presence across different age groups and help identify new talent that can be developed and prepared to represent Kuwait in upcoming competitions,” he said. The federation had finalised its full schedule in August, ensuring committees were ready after summer preparations involving technical, refereeing and administrative staff.
When the event concluded on October 1, Al-Sulaibikhat Club had claimed the team title with five gold medals, followed by Al-Nasr Club in second place and Al-Qadisiya in third, the federation reported. Gold medallists from Al-Sulaibikhat included Basil Mohammed, Athbi Jassim, Ali Abbas, Turki Eid and Ahmed Naji while Al-Nasr and Al-Qadisiya each produced three champions of their own. Al-Otaibi personally awarded the medals and commended the technical standard displayed by the juniors, whose performances he described as promising for Kuwaiti boxing’s future.
The Asian Boxing Confederation noted that a similar Kuwait Junior National Championships held in October 2025 at the same hall also saw Sulaibikhat emerge as team champion after 13 individual titles were decided across 13 weight classes. Those contests involved athletes born in 2009 and 2010 competing from 46kg to over 80kg, producing a group of talents who later targeted international exposure. The recurring success of Sulaibikhat across editions illustrates the value of consistent junior programmes in developing club pipelines.
Al-Otaibi emphasised that such tournaments remain essential for early talent detection and for refining skills that prepare a new generation to compete for Kuwait. He also welcomed the involvement of female referees during the latest championship, calling it a milestone that expands women’s roles across Kuwaiti sport. The federation intends to stage further junior events soon to maintain competitive rhythm and sustain the development momentum established in the opening competition.
Preparations for the season had begun well before September, with the federation committing to a packed schedule that balances local tournaments with pathways toward regional meets. Officials view the junior level as critical because it supplies the athletes who eventually fill senior national teams. Through these structured events the federation continues to expand the sport’s base while raising overall technical standards among Kuwait’s young boxers.
