The Saudi national handball team concludes its training camp in Türkiye and prepares for the Asian Championship in Kuwait
The Saudi national handball team announced the conclusion of its overseas training camp held in the Republic of Turkey, which comes as a pivotal part of the fifth stage of the intensive preparation program, in preparation for competing in the (22) Asian Championship for national teams, scheduled to start in the State of Kuwait during the month of January.
During their time in Turkey, the Saudi national handball team played two international friendlies against the Turkish national team. The Saudis won the first match, while the second ended in a victory for the hosts. However, the coaching staff's primary focus was not on the results themselves, but rather on improving the players' fitness levels and enhancing tactical cohesion between the experienced and younger players. This was part of a strategy to gradually improve the team's performance and reach peak readiness before the official start of the season.
The importance of the tournament and the challenges of qualifying for the World Cup
This participation holds immense strategic importance for Saudi handball, as the Asian Championship offers more than just a chance to win the continental title; it also serves as the primary gateway to qualifying for the World Handball Championship. All eyes are on Kuwait, which will host the continent's elite teams, amidst expectations of fierce competition, particularly from the Gulf teams that have developed significantly in recent years. This places a heavy responsibility on the Saudi national team to perform at a level befitting its history and continental standing.
A multi-stage marathon preparation journey
To ensure the best possible representation, the national team underwent a long-term preparation program with several key phases. The first phase began with an internal training camp in the Eastern Province (December 8-13, 2025) for physical conditioning. This was followed by a challenging second phase, which included two matches against the Qatari national team – a former world runner-up – in Doha in mid-December. The team returned to the Eastern Province for the third phase to enhance their technical skills before traveling to Georgia for the fourth phase (December 25-31, 2025) for two friendly matches, culminating in the final phase in Turkey.
Final touches before heading to Kuwait
The Saudi national team is scheduled to launch the sixth and final phase of its preparations on Thursday, which will continue until January 13, 2026. This crucial phase will include two friendly matches on January 10 and 11, which will serve as the final test to determine the core squad and the technical plans that the coach will adopt in the tournament, before packing up and heading to Kuwait with high ambitions to achieve a new accomplishment for Saudi sports.
