The Kuwait handball team holds final training before departure for the World Cup.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 4: The Kuwait national handball team departed for Croatia recently to compete in the 29th World Handball Championship, taking place from January 14 to February 2 in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway. The team is set to compete in Group Three, alongside Qatar, Austria, and France, with all group matches hosted in Croatia.

Kuwait’s campaign will begin against Austria on January 14, followed by a match against Qatar on January 16, and concluding the group stage against France on January 18.

The delegation, led by the Federation’s Secretary General Qaed Al-Adwani, includes Faisal Saywan (Director of National Teams), Abdulaziz Al-Zaabi (Director of the First Team), and the technical staff, headed by Algerian coach Saeed Hijazi. The 18-player squad features:

Goalkeepers: Abdullah Al-Khamis, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Haider Dashti

Players: Mohammed Amer, Fawaz Mubarak, Abdulaziz Salmeen, Fawaz Al-Shammari, Mohammed Al-Hindal, Ali Naseer, Saif Al-Adwani, Mishaal Al-Harbi, Saleh Al-Moussawi, Mohammed Al-Sanea, Abdulrahman Al-Shammari, Mohammed Ghadanfar, Hassan Safar, Abdulaziz Al-Dhafiri, Mohammed Bouyabes

To prepare for the championship, the "Blue Hand" team held external training camps in Croatia and Tunisia, where they played a series of friendly matches. The technical staff focused on enhancing physical fitness and implementing tactical strategies, both defensive and offensive.

Assistant Secretary General of the Handball Federation, Abdullah Al-Dhiyab, emphasized the team's readiness for the World Championship, stating:

"The Federation’s Board of Directors, in collaboration with the coaching and technical staff, developed a comprehensive plan to elevate the players’ performance and prepare them for this prestigious international event, especially after a 14-year absence from the World Championship."

Al-Dhiyab also expressed gratitude to all those who supported the team during the preparation phase, highlighting the importance of the international friendly tournament hosted in Kuwait. He voiced confidence in the team, hoping they will deliver a commendable performance, reflecting Kuwait’s rich handball history, with eight prior World Cup appearances.

The team aims to make a strong comeback and proudly represent Kuwait on the global stage.

By Khaled Al-Enzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff