Al Duhail attacks the Kazma defense.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 24: Kazma secured fourth place in the 27th Asian Handball Clubs Championship, which concluded recently in Doha, Qatar, after a 24-34 loss to Qatar’s Al Duhail in the third-place playoff.

The title was claimed by UAE’s Sharjah Club, who edged out Saudi Arabia’s Al Khaleej in a thrilling final, winning 27-26.

Kazma’s journey in the tournament was marked by missed opportunities, particularly in the semi-final match against Sharjah. Despite leading by five goals at one stage, a series of costly mistakes allowed their opponents to stage a comeback and secure a narrow 28-27 victory in the dying seconds, following a fiercely contested match that extended into two overtimes.

Kuwait Club, the second Kuwaiti representative in the tournament, finished in sixth place after a 28-31 defeat to Qatar’s Al Rayyan in the fifth-place decider. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Al Shabab claimed seventh place with a 36-31 victory over Iran’s Mes Kerman.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff