18/12/2024
18/12/2024
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 18: The draw for the 41st Gulf Clubs Handball Championship, conducted in the Sultanate of Oman, placed Kuwait Club in Group Two alongside the host team Oman Club, Qatar’s Al-Arabi Club, and Dibba Al-Hisn Club from the UAE. Group One features the defending champion, Al-Rayyan Club of Qatar, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Noor Club, Bahrain’s Al-Najma Club, and Oman’s Al-Seeb Club.
The tournament is scheduled to run from February 15 to 24 at the Sultan Qaboos Complex Hall in Oman, hosted by Oman Club.
Sameh Al-Hajri, Director of Handball at Kuwait Club, described the draw as balanced and announced plans for an external training camp in Qatar to prepare for the competition. He also revealed ongoing evaluations of several foreign players' CVs to select a circle player who will bolster "Al-Ameed" during the championship.
Chairman of the Oman Handball Association, Musa bin Khamis Al-Balushi, praised Oman Club's efforts in organizing the tournament. “We welcome all our brothers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to the Sultanate of Oman,” he said. “Gulf championships have a unique character due to the strength, experience, and exceptional talent of the teams, which have firmly established their place at the pinnacle of Asian handball.”
Al-Balushi anticipates intense competition in both the preliminary and subsequent rounds, with the event reflecting the advanced level of Omani handball. He expressed hopes for a successful tournament for all participating clubs.
In the previous edition, held at Al-Duhail Sports Hall in Doha, Qatar, Al-Rayyan Club claimed the championship title, narrowly defeating Kuwait Club 33-32 in the final. Kuwait Club won the title in the 39th edition.
By Khaled Al-Enezi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff