Al-Hajeri: The suspension affected the results of the handball national teams

The acting president of the Kuwait Handball Federation, Shuaib Al-Hajjari, stated that the difficult conditions experienced by Kuwaiti handball were reflected in the national teams’ results in recent international competitions. He added that this clarification was not an excuse, but a fundamental factor that must be taken into account. Al-Hajjari noted that competitions and training sessions were almost entirely suspended from February to June last year, for approximately four months, due to the circumstances affecting the region, while other Gulf and Asian national teams and clubs continued their training programs and competitions as usual. He said, “We returned to participate in Asian qualifiers and championships, fully aware that the preparation time we lost cannot be made up in a matter of days or weeks, and it is natural that this would affect performance and results, especially in age-group categories that require continuity and progressive preparation.” He clarified that the federation does not reject criticism or evaluation, stating, “We do not claim that our results are beyond criticism, nor do we reject evaluation; however, we reject being assessed as if all teams entered competitions under the same conditions and underwent the same preparation period.” Al-Hajjari pointed out that it is the right of the handball community and the public to demand better results, which is legitimate, “but it is also the right of the players, coaching staff, and administrative personnel to receive fairness and recognition for the exceptional circumstances they endured.”