Intensive preparations before the tournament.

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Executive Council of the Asian Handball Federation has approved the schedule for the 22nd Asian Championship, which will serve as the "2027 World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Kuwait in January 2026, with matches set to take place at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex Hall, starting on January 26.

Kuwait's bid to host the championship received unanimous approval from the Executive Office, granting the country the honor of organizing this prestigious event. The tournament will determine the four teams that will qualify for the 2027 IHF World Championship in Germany.

Commenting on the announcement, Qaed Al-Adwani, Secretary General of the Kuwait Handball Federation, expressed pride in hosting the Asian qualifiers under the directives of Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs. He emphasized Kuwait’s proven track record in successfully organizing Asian tournaments and highlighted the strong support from Minister Al-Mutairi and Bashar Abdullah, Director General of the Public Authority for Youth.

“All preparations for the championship will be meticulously handled by the organizing committees to ensure a world-class event that upholds Kuwait’s reputation on the international stage,” Al-Adwani said. “Additionally, an intensive preparatory program will be put in place for the national team ahead of the tournament.”

Talal Al-Otaibi, a member of the Kuwait Handball Federation's Board of Directors and the Arab Handball Federation, underscored the significance of this unanimous decision, which reflects the confidence of Asian Federation officials in Kuwait’s capability to host a major sporting event. He also credited Minister Al-Mutairi and the acting Director of the Sports Authority for their instrumental support in securing the bid, extending his gratitude on behalf of Kuwait’s handball community.

Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff