Kuwait city: The 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship, scheduled to take place in Kuwait, promises to offer a unique experience in terms of technical, organizational, and competitive standards, as highlighted by Kuwaiti sport analysts and national team coaches.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the tournament, which doubles as the qualifiers for the 2027 IHF World Championship set to be hosted in Germany, will run from January 15 to 29. Coach Hussain Habib indicated that the 2026 Asian Championship is expected to display a high technical level, making it challenging to predict the leading teams, although Qatar, Japan, and Bahrain are considered strong contenders for the title. He pointed out that the competition for the fourth World Championship qualification spot could be intense between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Habib expressed concerns over Kuwait national team's performance in recent friendly matches and the Islamic Solidarity Championship, yet he remains hopeful that the home crowd will provide a motivational boost for the players, potentially aiding them in securing qualification for the World Championship. He also noted Saudi Arabia's significant development and the potential surprise from Japan in the race for the title.
Analyst and national coach Khaled Melhem emphasized that all 15 participating teams are preparing rigorously to secure one of the four coveted World Championship qualification spots. He identified Qatar as the top contender, followed by Bahrain, Japan, and South Korea, but mentioned Kuwait's improving chances due to technical enhancements and anticipated strong support from local fans. Melhem remarked on Saudi Arabia's impressive improvement, especially after winning the Islamic Solidarity Games, and highlighted the competitive atmosphere expected from teams like the UAE and China.
Coach Dr. Ahmad Folath expressed that the championship will signify a technical advancement due to the development of Asian teams and Kuwait's robust organizational and media efforts, as evidenced by past events managed by the Kuwait Handball Association. He anticipated exciting matches at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sport Center, with teams like Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Japan, Iran, and Iraq showing significant progress. Folath named Qatar as the leading title favorite, while acknowledging Kuwait's potential despite being in a rebuilding phase.
Coach Waleed Salmeen also shared insights with KUNA, predicting that this edition will exceed previous tournaments in terms of preparation and performance, particularly highlighting defending champion Qatar. He stressed Kuwait's capability to clinch a World Championship qualification spot, underscoring the extensive preparations undertaken by all participating teams.