KUWAIT, Jan 22 (KUNA) - Kuwait defeated Iraq 29-16 on Thursday in the main round of the 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF World Championship in Germany.
Playing at the Sheik Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex Hall, the Kuwaiti side asserted its dominance early, delivering a strong first-half performance marked by disciplined defense. Kuwait conceded only six goals in the first half, ending it with a comfortable 14-6 lead.
In the second half, Kuwaiti players maintained their momentum on both ends of the court, showcasing effective attacking play and continued defensive solidity to seal their first win in the main round of the continental tournament. Kuwait's Hassan Safar was named Man of the Match for his standout performance.
Seven matches were played on Thursday across the four groups. In Group A, South Korea and Japan played out a 23-23 draw. In Group B, Bahrain defeated the United Arab Emirates 32-20, while Qatar beat Saudi Arabia 32-25. Group C saw Jordan overcome Oman 31-24. In Group D, Iran recorded a 39-16 win over India, and China edged Australia 17-9.
The Asian Championship will continue on Friday with seven fixtures scheduled, including Kuwait facing Japan, Iraq taking on South Korea, the UAE meeting Saudi Arabia, Qatar playing Bahrain, China against India, Iran versus Australia, and Jordan facing Hong Kong.
The tournament began on January 15 and will run until January 29 in Kuwait. (end) hms.aa