Al-Qadisiya player takes instructions from the coach during training session.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 27: Egyptian and Al-Ahly handball player Abdullah Farouk has officially signed a one-season renewable contract with Al-Qadisiya, completing the club's roster of foreign professionals. This follows the renewal of Montenegrin Vladan Lipovina's contract. Farouk is a strong addition to Al-Qadisiya which is led by Croatian coach Slavko Klosa, who had a successful season with the team last year. Farouk recently transferred from Smouha Club to Al-Ahly about a month ago.

The team is scheduled to depart this evening, pending final approval from the Sports Authority, for an external training camp in Bosnia. This camp is in preparation for its participation in the 39th Arab Club Handball Championship, hosted by Kuwait Club from September 15-25, where it competes alongside Al-Salmiya Club and Kuwait Club.

Al-Qadisiya has also made key additions to its coaching staff, hiring Macedonian assistant coach Ivan and Montenegrin goalkeeping coach Flanco. The club has also signed local talents Hamad Al-Saqr and goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Saffar and appointed Hadi Naseer as the game manager and Baqer Khuraibat as the first-team manager. In other news, Al-Sulaibikhat has signed goalkeeper Hassan Bou Abbas and player Fawaz Al-Mulla for one season.

Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti junior handball team faces South Korea at the Federation Hall at the Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Center in Al-Daiya. This is the first friendly match between the two teams as they prepare for the 10th Asian Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2025 Junior World Cup. The championship will be hosted by Jordan from September 3-14. The Blues have been preparing for the Asian Championship with an external training camp in Slovenia, where they played several friendly matches under the guidance of coach Marko Martinovic and his assistant Hussein Habib.

In parallel, handball referees have concluded the first part of their external training camp in Slovenia. This camp is part of the Federation's plan to prepare referees both physically and mentally and to review new regulations before the start of the new season on September 29, which will kick off with the Federation Cup Championship postponed from last season.

The referees will now travel to Croatia to continue their training according to the Kuwait Handball Association's plan to enhance refereeing standards. The camp in Slovenia featured theoretical lectures by Macedonian referees Nikolov Slav and Nechevski Georgi, who officiated the final of the 2023 World Cup won by Denmark over France with a score of 34-29. The camp also included practical sessions through an international friendly tournament involving various national teams and multiple refereeing teams.