Kuwait’s Blue Team heads to Japan to participate in the Asian Games - Sarmad
The Kuwaiti national handball team departed for Japan on Wednesday to participate in the 20th Asian Games, “Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” which will run from September 19 to September 29.
The “Blue Hands” will hold an indoor training camp in Tokyo, the Japanese capital, to complete their final preparations before the tournament begins, as they aim to maintain their presence in Asian handball following their bronze medal win at the previous edition, “Hangzhou 2023,” after defeating Japan in the third-place match.
In this regard, Qa’id Al-Adwani, Secretary General of the Kuwaiti Handball Federation and head of the Kuwaiti national team delegation, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) prior to departure that the Federation’s plan involves an eight-day indoor training camp in Tokyo, followed by a move to Nagoya, the host city of the competition. He noted that both the Federation and the players aspire to compete for a medal at this edition.
He emphasized that the national team players are fully prepared for the upcoming competitions and are ready to fulfill their responsibilities to delight Kuwaiti fans and deliver performances that reflect the stature of Kuwaiti handball in Asia, despite being placed in a challenging group.
Al-Adwani expressed his gratitude to Kuwait Olympic Committee President Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah and Minister of State for Youth and Sports Affairs Dr. Tariq Al-Jalahma for their full support and for removing all obstacles facing the Kuwaiti delegation, in order to achieve a standing befitting Kuwaiti handball and to raise the Kuwaiti flag at the Asian arena.
Accompanying the national team delegation are Khalid Talib, Treasurer of the Federation; Fahd Rabie, Team Manager; and the technical staff, including Head Coach Aron Kristansson and Coach Henk Janssen, along with physiotherapist Mehdi Al-Bakoush.
The squad comprises 16 players: Hussain Dashti, Mohammed Al-Buayyab, Hassan Safar, Abdullah Al-Khamis, Saleh Al-Mousawi, Saif Al-Adwani, Hamoud Al-Adwani, Abdulaziz Salmeen, Haider Dashti, Fawaz Al-Mashari, Yousef Dhaif, Abdulaziz Dhaif, Abdulrahman Al-Shamari, Abdulaziz Al-Shamari, Mohammed Ali, and Hussain Al-Mutawa.
The draw placed Kuwait in Group B alongside Bahrain, South Korea, Iran, and Kazakhstan. The team will open their preliminary campaign against Iran on September 19, followed by matches against South Korea on September 21, Kazakhstan on September 22, and Bahrain on September 25.
