MANAMA, Jan 17: Kuwait handball team is gearing up for a formidable match against Bahrain in the second group of the "main" second round of the 21st Asian Championship – the "2025 World Cup Qualifiers" currently underway in Manama at 7:00 pm. The tournament is set to conclude on the 25th of this month.

In the same round, the UAE faces off against Qatar, Japan competes with Iran, and Iraq takes on Korea. Simultaneously, as part of the consolation rounds, India clashes with China, Saudi Arabia engages with New Zealand, Kazakhstan contends with Oman, and Hong Kong meets Chinese Taipei.

Having secured a spot in the main round by claiming second place in the preliminary round's first group, Kuwait accumulated four points from a victory over Oman and China Taipei, despite a loss to Qatar, which topped the group and advanced alongside Kuwait.

Confrontations between Kuwait and Bahrain are renowned for their intensity in the Arabian Gulf and Asia. Both teams possess the potential for victory, with Bahrain holding recent dominance in direct encounters.Kuwait aims to turn the tide against Bahrain and achieve a positive result before their upcoming match against Korea. The goal is to secure a spot in the semi-finals and obtain one of the four qualification cards for the 2025 World Cup.

In a related note, Shabib Al-Hajri, Vice President of the Handball Federation, commended the level exhibited by Kuwait in the tournament so far. He stated, "We have players who exhibit confidence and responsibility, despite the challenging nature of the task and the relative inexperience of most players in international and Asian tournaments."

Regarding today's match, Al-Hajri emphasized the strength of the group, comprising the best teams in the yellow continent. He pointed out the significant technical capabilities of South Korea, Bahrain, and Iraq, creating a fierce competition where predicting the group's champion becomes a challenging task.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff