Asian Handball Federation President Praises Successful Launch of Club Championship

Al-Otaibi: Berqan’s Participation in Asian Championship is a Result of Hard Work.

Al-Dhiab: Leadership’s Commitment to Supporting Sports and Athletes in the Asian Handball Championship.

The President of the Asian Handball Federation, Badr Al-Dhiab, commended the successful kickoff of the Asian Club Handball Championship, which began two days ago at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex, hosted by Kuwait SC. Al-Dhiab noted that the first day of the championship showcased significant organizational efforts and highlighted strong performances from the participating teams, underscoring the tournament’s importance on a continental scale.

He emphasized that holding this championship amid regional challenges reflects the leadership’s dedication to supporting sports and athletes. Al-Dhiab praised Kuwaiti youth for their capability to organize major sporting events efficiently, with an eye toward hosting even larger tournaments in the future. He also remarked on how the commitment of participating clubs to attend despite travel difficulties illustrates Kuwait’s esteemed position in the eyes of all attendees. He noted that delegations received all necessary support upon their arrival.

Al-Dhiab stated that the positive feedback received by the Asian Federation from participating teams regarding the organization reflects Kuwait’s strong reputation for hosting continental competitions. He expressed confidence in Kuwaiti staff’s abilities to successfully manage various sports events. In closing, he wished success to Kuwait SC as hosts and to all participating clubs, hoping for continued organizational and competitive success throughout the tournament.

Today’s Matches
The Asian Club Handball Championship continues today with three matches scheduled as part of Round Three at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. At 4 PM, Bahrain’s Al-Najma will face Qatar’s Al-Duhail, followed by Kuwait SC taking on Saudi Arabia’s Al-Khaleej at 6 PM. The day’s matches will conclude with Qatar’s Al-Arabi facing Berqan at 8 PM.

All eyes are on the anticipated clash between Kuwait SC and Al-Khaleej, both teams currently holding two points each and vying for victory to edge closer to securing a spot in the semifinals. Kuwait SC hopes to leverage home advantage and strong crowd support, while Al-Khaleej aims to overcome this challenge and maintain its successful trajectory in the tournament.

In the final match, Berqan enters with two points as well, aiming for its second consecutive win to enhance its chances for qualification, backed by a solid team performance led by star players Mohsen Ramadan and Nabil Sharif, along with goalkeeper Abdulrahman Hamid.

The opening round saw Kuwait SC defeat Qatar’s Al-Arabi 27-22, Berqan narrowly edging out Qatar’s Al-Duhail 29-28, and Al-Khaleej overcoming UAE’s Sharjah with a score of 32-30. Following these results, Kuwait SC, Al-Khaleej, and Berqan share top position in the standings with two points each, while Al-Duhail, Al-Arabi, and Sharjah remain without points after Round One.

Al-Otaibi: A Significant Achievement.

Anwar Al-Otaibi, President of Berqan Club, asserted that their participation in the Asian Club Handball Championship is not coincidental but rather a result of continuous hard work over several years that has positioned them among Asia’s elite clubs. He remarked that Berqan’s victory over Qatar’s Al-Duhail at the start of their championship journey is a significant achievement given their opponent’s rich history in continental competitions.

Al-Otaibi expressed that this victory should not come as a surprise given Berqan’s impressive technical capabilities. He commended his players’ performance as reflective of their preparation for this continental event and praised their fighting spirit throughout the match.

He expressed hope for continued positive results in upcoming rounds while maintaining high standards befitting Kuwaiti handball’s reputation. He acknowledged that all participating teams possess substantial capabilities necessitating increased efforts to maintain competitive chances for advancement into later stages.