Players bid farewell to Al Zaabi.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: Abdulaziz Al-Zaabi, the former star of Kuwait's national handball team and Al-Salmiya Club, officially bid farewell to the handball courts with a retirement ceremony held during the Kuwait International Championship. This special event took place on the sidelines of the match between Kuwait and the Tunisian national team, which concluded the championship at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex Hall.

The Kuwait International Friendly Championship, featuring the Tunisian, Bahraini, and Cape Verde national teams, served as part of the Kuwaiti team’s preparations for the 2025 World Cup, set to take place in January across Croatia, Denmark, and Norway. Kuwait will compete in Group Three alongside France, Austria, and Qatar.

The national team achieved notable results in the tournament, securing a 36-26 victory over Cape Verde, a 33-33 draw against Tunisia, and a 35-31 loss to Bahrain.

Tunisia claimed victory in the Kuwait International Handball Tournament after a 33-33 draw with Kuwait. Bahrain secured second place with a 29-21 win over Cape Verde in the final. The tournament, held on November 8-9, served as preparation for the 2025 World Cup.

The final rankings were as follows: Tunisia emerged as champions with two wins and one draw, Bahrain finished second with two wins and one loss, Kuwait placed third with one win, one loss, and one draw, while Cape Verde came fourth after three defeats.

Coach Saeed Hijazi expressed satisfaction with the team's progress, highlighting the valuable experience gained from these encounters. He commended the Handball Association’s Board of Directors for their support in properly preparing the team. Hijazi also emphasized that Kuwaiti handball has the talent and potential to compete at a high level. Bahraini national team coach Aaron Christensen echoed similar sentiments, praising the exchange of experience between the teams and the excellent organization of the event.