Players in action during the handball league match in Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, April 21: The Kuwait Handball League — both Premier and First Division — will pause after today’s matches to allow the national team to prepare for the 10th Arab Cup, which Kuwait will host from May 4 to 12 at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex.

The Premier League will resume on May 16, while the First Division will return on May 14.

The Arab Cup will feature nine teams: Kuwait (host), Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

The Kuwaiti national team, led by newly appointed Icelandic coach Aron Kristjansson and his Danish assistant Ansen, is entering intensive preparations. The official tournament draw will take place on April 26.

In the first round of the Premier League’s second stage, Kuwait Club claimed a dominant 40-29 win over Al-Sulaibikhat. Burgan edged Al-Salmiya 31-30, while Kazma narrowly defeated Al-Arabi 30-29.

Kuwait Club remains atop the standings with 38 points, followed by Burgan (31), Kazma (26), Al-Salmiya (21), and Al-Sulaibikhat (18), with Al-Arabi close behind on goal difference.

Today’s Premier League fixtures include Al-Fahaheel vs. Al-Yarmouk and Al-Sahel vs. Al-Qadisiya.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff