Kuwait secured a 39-25 victory over Hong Kong on January 17, 2026, to register its second consecutive win at the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship hosted in Kuwait City. The team built a commanding 23-12 halftime lead at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex before maintaining dominance in the second half, with Haidar Dashti earning man of the match honors for his performance. This result followed an opening 46-12 triumph against India and set up a concluding group match against the United Arab Emirates.
Arab Times reported that the United Arab Emirates posted a 43-21 win over India the same day while Iran defeated Australia 39-13 in other Group C action. These outcomes underscored the competitive balance in preliminary rounds of the tournament that runs through January 29 and doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 World Championship. The International Handball Federation noted beforehand that Kuwait entered as one of the favorites in its group alongside the UAE, Hong Kong and India.
Three matches formed the third round of the preliminary group stage later that day at the same venue, beginning with Jordan against Iraq in Group B at 2 p.m. Korea was scheduled to face Oman in Group A at 4 p.m. followed by China versus Bahrain in Group B at 6 p.m. Previous round results included Qatar’s 27-15 defeat of Oman, Bahrain’s 32-21 victory over Jordan and Iraq’s 27-22 win against China. Qatar topped Group A with two points while Bahrain led Group B on goal difference ahead of Iraq.
Bashar Abdullah, acting director general of the Public Authority for Sport, expressed satisfaction with Kuwait’s hosting of the championship, describing it as a significant event that continues the country’s record of staging major international competitions. He voiced confidence in the national team’s ability to perform at a high level based on past accomplishments. “We hope the team competes at the highest level, as they have always accustomed us to achieving accomplishments,” Abdullah stated.
The official outlined the squad’s dual objectives for the tournament while calling on fans to attend matches and offer strong support. “The first goal is to reach the semifinals and secure qualification for the World Cup, while the second is to compete for the title,” he added. Kuwait has hosted the Asian Men’s Handball Championship four times including this edition, according to records from the Asian Handball Federation.
Asian Handball Federation President Badr Al-Diyab voiced full confidence in the event’s success, emphasizing that Kuwait has demonstrated its capacity to organize major sporting occasions beyond the Asian level. He anticipated a high standard of play across the championship, which serves as a pathway to the World Championship in Germany. Al-Diyab’s remarks aligned with the federation’s assessment that the tournament would highlight the growth of handball throughout the region.
Kuwait ultimately placed third in the 2026 championship and qualified for the 2027 World Championship, adding to its historical record of four previous continental titles in 1995, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The Asian Handball Federation’s final standings confirmed the hosts finished with six wins in eight matches and a positive goal difference of 69. This outcome met the first objective set by officials while showcasing the team’s consistent presence among Asia’s elite.
