Kuwait Returns to the World Stage After 16-Year Hiatus
After a 16-year absence, Kuwait is making a triumphant comeback to the IHF Men’s World Championship stage in 2025. Their resurgence on the international handball scene has been marked by impressive performances, culminating in a well-earned bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games.
Building Momentum: A Stellar Road to Qualification
Kuwait’s journey back to the world stage began in Bahrain at the 2024 AHF Men’s Asian Championships. Under the guidance of head coach Said Hadjazi, the team displayed remarkable consistency and determination. They secured a group stage opening victory against Oman (27:26), followed by a convincing win over Chinese Taipei (31:27). While a narrow loss to continental powerhouse Qatar (20:24) – a team they would face again in both the semi-final and bronze medal games – presented a challenge, it didn’t dampen their spirits.
Kuwait carried their momentum into the main round, drawing against Bahrain (28:28) and Korea Republic (27:27) before crushing Iraq (37:22) in their final match. This emphatic victory not only secured a semi-final berth but also confirmed their qualification for the 2025 World Championship.
A Bronze Medal Finish at the Asian Games
Continuing their upward trajectory, Kuwait’s success continued at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. A stellar preliminary and main round campaign saw them string together four consecutive victories, defeating Thailand (49:19), China (27:24), Iran (24:22), coached by now Qatar coach Veselin Vujovic, and the Republic of Korea (25:24). Although they suffered a final main round loss against Bahrain (25:34), it didn’t deter them from reaching the semi-finals.
There, they once again faced a formidable Qatar, ultimately losing to the experienced side (26:33). Undeterred, Kuwait competed fiercely in the bronze medal match against Japan, edging out their opponents in a thrilling 31:30 victory. Abdulaziz Al-Shammari sealed the win with a crucial seventh goal, securing the team’s well-deserved Bronze medal.
Looking Ahead: A New Generation on the World Stage
While Kuwait will be eager to test themselves against global powerhouses in Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, their European opponents, France and Austria, have the advantage of recent competitive action. Kuwait, however, will arrive in Croatia with valuable experience under their belts, having hosted the ‘Kuwait International Handball Championship’ in November.
Experienced coach Said Hadjazi, who is intimately familiar with Kuwaiti handball after two decades coaching various club teams, is likely to select a squad largely composed of the players who secured the bronze medal in China.
“The aspiration of the team at this world championship is to present an excellent and positive image of itself and get one win in our games,” said Hadjazi. “In these tournaments, all teams are looking to develop friction with the world champions to benefit from the upcoming tournaments.”
Looking even further ahead, the future of Kuwaiti handball appears bright. The nation’s youth team, led by
How has coach Said Hadjazi contributed to the Kuwaiti handball team’s resurgence?
## Kuwait Handball: Back on the World Stage
**Host:** Welcome back to the show! Today, we’re discussing Kuwait’s triumphant return to the international handball scene after a 16 year hiatus. Joining us to shed light on this exciting resurgence is [Alex Reed Name], [Alex Reed Credentials]. Welcome to the show!
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me! It’s a truly exciting time for Kuwaiti handball.
**Host:** Absolutely! Can you tell us a bit about Kuwait’s journey back to the IHF Men’s World Championship? The team seems to have gained incredible momentum.
**Alex Reed:** Indeed. Their road back started with the 2024 Asian Championships in Bahrain. Led by coach Said Hadjazi, they showed impressive resilience, picking up key victories against Oman and Chinese Taipei. A narrow loss to Qatar was a setback, but they bounced back even stronger. [ [[1](https://betsapi.com/l/1620/Kuwait-League)]]. They carried this momentum into the main round, securing a draw against Bahrain and Korea Republic before a decisive victory against Iraq confirmed their qualification for the World Championship.
**Host:** That’s incredible! And their success didn’t stop there, did it?
**Alex Reed:** Not at all! Kuwait continued their upward trajectory at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. They had a stellar preliminary performance, ultimately clinching a well-deserved bronze medal. This demonstrates their dedication and the quality of their players.
**Host:** This bronze medal win is a huge achievement. What does this mean for the future of Kuwaiti handball?
**Alex Reed**: It signifies a bright future. The team’s recent performance shows a renewed dedication and a desire to compete at the highest level. Young players are coming through the ranks, and with continued support and development, Kuwait can become a consistent force in international handball.
**Host:** We certainly hope so! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today, [Alex Reed Name]. We wish the Kuwaiti handball team all the best in their future endeavors.
**Alex Reed:** My pleasure! It’s been great talking to you.
