
Iraq handball team to hold Sulaymaniyah camp for World Cup qualifiers and Islamic Games prep
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi national men's handball team will hold an internal training camp in Sulaymaniyah, starting June 20, 2025, as part of its preparations for the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games and World Cup qualifiers.
Kadhim Kamel, a member of the Iraqi Handball Federation, stated that the camp will be crucial for head coach Goran Petković to select the final core squad for these major international tournaments. He noted that the recent participation in the Arab Cup in Kuwait was a useful and important experience that gave the Croatian coach a clear understanding of the players' levels.
Following the Arab Cup, an extensive technical meeting was held, chaired by Federation President Ahmed Riad, where a comprehensive preparation program for the upcoming championships was presented. The Arab Cup served as the initial testing ground for players selected from the domestic league.
The Sulaymaniyah camp marks the next phase in this strategy, aiming to refine the squad and ensure Iraq is ready to compete effectively for positive results.
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Iraq handball team to hold Sulaymaniyah camp for World Cup qualifiers and Islamic Games prep
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi national men's handball team will hold an internal training camp in Sulaymaniyah, starting June 20, 2025, as part of its preparations for the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games and World Cup qualifiers. Kadhim Kamel, a member of the Iraqi Handball Federation, stated that the camp will be crucial for head coach Goran Petković to select the final core squad for these major international tournaments. He noted that the recent participation in the Arab Cup in Kuwait was a useful and important experience that gave the Croatian coach a clear understanding of the players' levels. Following the Arab Cup, an extensive technical meeting was held, chaired by Federation President Ahmed Riad, where a comprehensive preparation program for the upcoming championships was presented. The Arab Cup served as the initial testing ground for players selected from the domestic league. The Sulaymaniyah camp marks the next phase in this strategy, aiming to refine the squad and ensure Iraq is ready to compete effectively for positive results.


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