A file photo of players in action.

KUWAIT CITY, March 13: Qaid Al-Adwani, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Handball Association, confirmed that Kuwait will host the 10th Arab Handball Cup next May, aligning with the political leadership's vision to make Kuwait a hub for Arab, continental, and international sports events. This move is part of ongoing efforts to develop Kuwaiti sports, particularly handball.

The announcement followed the Arab Handball Federation's approval to hold the 10th edition of the Arab Handball Cup for men's national teams in Kuwait from May 4 to 12, coinciding with the International Handball Federation Week.

Al-Adwani expressed his gratitude for the tremendous support of Kuwaiti sports from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. This support has driven Kuwait’s decision to host international tournaments that will showcase the country's bright image. He also thanked the Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, and Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sports, Bashar Abdullah, for their ongoing commitment to bringing these events to fruition.

Al-Adwani also highlighted Kuwait's recent success in securing the bid to host the 2026 Asian Cup, set to begin on January 20. The announcement of hosting the Arab Handball Cup comes after a 23-year gap, with the last edition held in 2002.

Khaled Talib, Treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Association, explained that the Association's decision to bid for the Arab Championship was fueled by the national team's strong performance at the recent World Cup finals. He added that hosting the tournament in Kuwait would boost the country's profile as a capable organizer of major sporting events.

Talib emphasized the high level of competition in the tournament, which will feature top teams such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, and other Arab teams with star players and experienced technical staff. He assured that the Kuwaiti national team was fully prepared for the tournament.

Additionally, Talib confirmed that the Kuwait Handball Association is in the process of hiring a new coach for the national team to better understand the players' strengths and strategies ahead of the upcoming Asian Championship. This step is part of the Federation's goal to elevate the national team to the highest level.

The Arab Handball Cup has been held nine times previously. Egypt won the first and second editions, Kuwait claimed victories in the third and fifth editions, Tunisia won the fourth and sixth editions, Saudi Arabia triumphed in the seventh, and Algeria took the eighth. Bahrain is the most recent titleholder, having won the tournament in 2002 in Jordan.