Kuwait U-17 handball team heads to Jordan for Asian Championship

Kuwait's U-17 handball team is en route to Amman, Jordan, to compete in the 11th Asian Men's Youth Handball Championship, which runs from August 20 to 31. The draw placed Kuwait in Group B alongside Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and Syria. Japan and Taiwan withdrew from the championship due to regional security concerns, leading to a redraw.

The delegation includes Kuwait Handball Federation Treasurer Khaled Taleb, board member Mishal Al-Qabandi, National Teams Director Faisal Saiwan, and team manager Shaker Arti. The technical staff is led by new Icelandic coach Stefan Arnason, assisted by national coach Khaled Al-Mulla, goalkeeping coach Marwan Maqayez, and physiotherapist Hani Al-Dawas. The squad comprises 18 players.

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Acknowledged the difficulty of Kuwait’s group, pointing to the rapid development of teams across Asia and the region.

Preparations for the tournament were initially led by Croatian coach Ivan, who stepped down because of the security situation. The team then held a training camp in Slovenia, participating in several friendly matches before returning to Kuwait for a final camp. Kuwait's opening match is scheduled against Syria on August 20 at Princess Sumaya Hall in Amman.

Team manager Faisal Saiwan acknowledged the difficulty of Kuwait's group, citing the rapid development of handball in Asia. He expressed the team's commitment to working hard and representing Kuwait effectively, despite domestic challenges within the sport.

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Despite the challenges facing handball domestically, Saiwan said the team is working hard to deliver a strong performance and represent Kuwait in the best possible way.