Latest news with #Sulaibikhat
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Handball Association Cup heats up as the preliminary round concludes
KUWAIT CITY, June 18: The preliminary round of the 57th Kuwait Handball Association Cup wraps up today with Group Two matches at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The day's fixtures include Sulaibikhat vs. Al-Arabi at 4:30 pm, Khaitan vs. Burgan at 6:00 pm, and Al-Fahaheel vs. Al-Qadsiya at 7:30 pm. The tournament, which began yesterday, is set to conclude with the final match on June 28. The draw divided participating clubs into two groups. Group One features defending champion Kuwait Club, which was exempted from the preliminary round and will face the winner of yesterday's Al-Qurain vs. Al-Sahel match in the quarter-finals. The group also includes Yarmouk, Al-Tadamon, Al-Nasr, and Al-Salmiya. Group Two includes last season's runner-up Kazma, along with Sulaibikhat, Al-Arabi, Khaitan, Burgan, Al-Fahaheel, and Al-Qadsiya. Kazma will meet the winner of the Sulaibikhat vs. Al-Arabi match in the next stage. Assistant Treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Federation, Mishaal Al-Qabandi, emphasized the historic value of the tournament, calling it one of Kuwait's oldest and most prestigious handball competitions. He noted that the federation is committed to its continued development. Al-Qabandi also highlighted the readiness of participating clubs, pointing out that the tournament's timing—right after the league season concluded—has left players in peak physical condition. He encouraged fans to attend and support their teams. Meanwhile, national coach and technical analyst Khaled Melhem praised the competitive spirit of the 57th edition, citing high-level performances and the presence of standout professionals. Melhem said Kuwait Club remains the favorite but expects strong competition from Al-Qadsiya or Burgan, while noting that the unpredictable nature of the tournament could pave the way for a new champion.
Arab Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club outclasses Qadsia to seal treble
KUWAIT CITY, May 21: The Kuwait Club volleyball team capped off a dominant 2024-2025 season by securing a remarkable "triple" crown, winning the Federation Cup for the 19th time in its history at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex Hall, Kuwait Club defeated Al-Qadsia 3-1, while Kazma secured third place after overcoming Al-Shabab by the same score line. The "Dean" had already claimed the Super Cup and the Premier League title earlier in the season, confirming their superiority and consistency throughout the year. With three major titles under their belt, the "Whites" proved to be the undisputed champions of the season. Meanwhile, Kazma opened the season by winning the Federation Championship, and Sulaibikhat took top honors in the First Division Championship. Kuwait Club further extended its record as the most decorated team in domestic volleyball with 19 Federation Cup titles, followed by Qadsia (18), Kazma (14), Al-Arabi (7), and Al-Jahra (1). Kuwait Club President Khaled Al-Ghanim expressed his pride in the team's accomplishments, praising the players, coaching staff, and administrative team for their dedication. "This third title is a reward for the great efforts put in throughout the season," he said. "I also extend my appreciation to the Volleyball Federation for its excellent organization and support that helped elevate the competition." Al-Ghanim also commended the Volleyball Federation Board, led by Dr. Jaber Al-Marri, for its pivotal role in the season's success. Team captain Abdullah Jassim echoed the sentiments, expressing joy at clinching the Federation Cup: "This third title reflects the spirit of unity within our club—management, staff, and players all worked together to achieve our goals." Kuwait Volleyball Association President Dr. Jaber Al-Marri celebrated the successful conclusion of the season, emphasizing the high level of technical and organizational standards seen throughout. "This was a truly successful season in every sense—from the quality of play in all three major championships to the smooth organization by our committees." He extended congratulations to Kuwait Club for winning the General League and Federation Cup, to Kazma for the Federation Championship, and Sulaibikhat for its First Division title.
Arab Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Sulaibikhat advances to Federation Cup semifinals
KUWAIT CITY, May 21: Sulaibikhat basketball team booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2024-2025 Federation Cup after defeating Al-Nasr 121-101 in a high-scoring preliminary round match held at the Federation Hall in the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex in Sabah Al-Salem. Sulaibikhat will now await the winner of the upcoming quarter-final clash between Al-Arabi and Al-Qadisiya, scheduled for tomorrow (Friday). In another preliminary round matchup, Al-Arabi cruised past Al-Tadamon with a 107-89 victory. The standout performer of the game was Ibrahim Al-Shammari, who delivered a stellar performance with 45 points and 11 rebounds. Back to the Sulaibikhat vs. Al-Nasr showdown—featuring the league's fifth- and sixth-placed teams—the "Reds" (Sulaibikhat) dominated throughout, capitalizing on the absence of Al-Nasr's Macedonian head coach Jordanko Davidbakov, who was replaced by local coach Salem Al-Daoud. Sulaibikhat set the tone early, jumping to a 32-19 lead in the first quarter and maintaining a 58-48 advantage by halftime. The absence of Al-Nasr's American center, Ibrahima Thomas, was especially evident in the second half, as Sulaibikhat controlled the paint and extended their lead to 85-72 at the end of the third quarter. In the final period, they pulled away further, closing out the game with a commanding 20-point margin.
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Final day drama in Zain First Division: Al-Jahra crowned, who takes second?
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: Al-Jahra will officially be crowned champions of the Zain First Division League tonight when they face Sulaibikhat at 7:10 PM in the 20th and final round of the season. Simultaneously, Burgan will take on Al-Sahel in a decisive match at Al-Shabab Stadium. Al-Jahra secured the league title and promotion to the Zain Premier League after defeating Al-Sahel 2-0 last in Round 19, raising its tally to 25 points and making tonight's match a celebratory outing. The battle for second place—and a potential promotion opportunity—remains intense. Al-Shabab, currently with 22 points, is not playing this round but will be watching closely. It needs Al-Jahra to either draw or defeat Sulaibikhat to maintain its second-place position. Sulaibikhat, with 20 points, enters the match with a win-or-go-home mentality, knowing that only a victory will keep its hopes alive. Meanwhile, Burgan, on 19 points, is technically still in contention. A win combined with a Sulaibikhat loss or draw would see them finish level with Al-Shabab at 22 points—but Al-Shabab holds the edge in head-to-head results, giving it the tiebreaker advantage.
Arab Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Unbeaten Kuwait Club looks to extend lead as Premier Handball League returns
KUWAIT CITY, May 15: The Premier Handball League returns today after a 25-day break, with three thrilling matches lined up in the second round of the second division. All matches will take place at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The action kicks off at 4:30 pm with Kazma facing Sulaibikhat, followed by a showdown between Kuwait Club and Salmiya at 6:00 pm. The day's fixtures will conclude at 7:30 pm as Burgan takes on Al-Arabi. The league was temporarily paused on April 20 to allow the national team to participate in the 10th Arab Cup, which recently concluded in Kuwait. The national team, known as the Blues, secured third place in the tournament. Currently, Kuwait Club leads the Premier League standings with 38 points, followed by Burgan with 31 points. Kazma sits in third place with 26, ahead of Salmiya with 21, while Sulaibikhat and Al-Arabi are tied with 18 points each. Kuwait Club aims to extend its unbeaten streak and move one step closer to clinching the league title for yet another season, having maintained a perfect record since the 2012–2023 campaign. On the other hand, Salmiya hopes to climb the standings with a stronger second-half performance. In today's opener, Kazma enters as the favorite against Sulaibikhat, but the latter won't go down without a fight. Sulaibikhat used the league break to hold a training camp in Cairo and bolstered their squad with French-Algerian player Nouri Benhalima after Estonian professional Tom Karl sustained an injury. The final match between Burgan and Al-Arabi promises intensity, as Burgan looks to build on recent strong performances, while Al-Arabi aims to bounce back and improve its position in the league and with its fans. Meanwhile, in the First Division League, Saturday's fixtures will see Khaitan take on Al-Fahaheel, while Al-Qurain faces Al-Tadamon.
