The Kuwait Premier Handball League resumed on Feb. 5 after a 90-day break prompted by the national team’s involvement in the Islamic Solidarity Games and its hosting and participation in the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, Arab Times reported. The squad secured bronze at the continental event held in Kuwait in January, qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Germany for the 10th time, with the top four finishers advancing according to the Asian Handball Federation.
The break also followed training camps in Tunisia, Egypt, Slovenia and Croatia that prepared the team for the tournaments. Kuwait has a storied history in Asian handball, having won the championship four times in 1995, 2002, 2004 and 2006, IHF data shows. This latest qualification adds to the nation’s reputation as a regional powerhouse in the sport.
Round 9 matches got underway Thursday with Salmiya facing Burgan at 5 p.m. and Al-Arabi meeting Al-Nasr at 7 p.m. On Friday, Kazma is scheduled to play Al-Sulaibikhat at 5 p.m. while league leaders Kuwait Club take on Qadsia at 7 p.m. in the round’s marquee fixture, the newspaper’s coverage indicated. These games represent the first domestic action since November.
Arab Times figures show Kuwait Club atop the standings with a perfect 16 points. Kazma follows with 11 points, Burgan and Qadsia are level on eight, Al-Sulaibikhat has seven, Al-Arabi and Salmiya have six each, and Al-Nasr sits on two. The reigning champions’ lead reflects their historical supremacy in the league.
The Salmiya versus Burgan encounter stands out due to a coaching swap, as Hussein Habib, formerly with Burgan, now coaches Salmiya, while Yaqoub Al-Mousawi has moved from Salmiya to Burgan. Both coaches’ familiarity with the opposing side is anticipated to produce a tactical and closely fought contest. The report highlighted this unique dynamic as a highlight of the round.
The First Division League had resumed a day earlier on Feb. 4 with Khaitan leading on 10 points, Al-Qurain on eight and Yarmouk on seven. The Youth National Team holds five points, Al-Fahaheel four and Al-Sahel zero. This lower tier’s return complements the premier division’s restart.
League records attribute 15 titles to Kuwait Club, the most successful side with a streak of consecutive wins spanning over a decade through the 2024-25 season. Eight teams compete in the Premier League, according to SofaScore data on the competition. The resumption comes as the sport maintains strong popularity in Kuwait with deep roots in the national sporting culture.
