Kuwaiti Speed Skating Team Concludes Doha Camp Ahead of Global Championships
DOHA – Kuwait’s national speed skating team completed an intensive training camp in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, wrapping up 10 days of rigorous preparation ahead of their participation in the international championships scheduled for October in Australia and December in Hungary.
The camp, organized by the Kuwait Winter Sports Club, featured seven players under the guidance of Malaysian coach Mohammad Arif, with support from technical and administrative staff.
According to Meshaal Flaiteh, the secretary of the club and head of the delegation, the skaters of the “Blue Speed Team” underwent “intensive training with morning and evening sessions both inside and outside the ice rink.” Flaiteh emphasized that the camp aimed to sharpen the athletes’ technical skills and physical readiness for the upcoming ISU-supervised competitions.
He stressed the significance of exposing younger players to international training standards, stating, “**The national team’s management was keen to include a number of promising young players in the camp alongside senior players to develop their technical level.**”
Flaiteh commended the players for their commitment and discipline, which translated into marked improvements in race timings. He also credited the Public Authority for Sport, led by acting director general Bashar Abdullah, for providing continued institutional support that has elevated Kuwait’s profile in five different winter sports.
The athletes who took part in the Doha training camp included: Adib Halawa, Musaed Al-Muzal, Jassim Dashti, Abdullah Al-Shatti, Bader Al-Sarraf, Bader Al-Mulla, and Fahad Al-Khalifi.
In a related development, Kuwait’s sporting recognition on the regional level rose further this week as the Asian Handball Federation appointed Kuwait’s Bader Al-Dhiab as its new president for a term extending until 2029.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Al-Dhiab remarked, “**My nomination for this position is a great responsibility and requires diligent and continuous work to achieve success in the first place.**”
He shared that he has started working on a strategy aimed at the development of Asian handball, “**to elevate it to the global level through continuous support, development of the game, and assistance to federations to promote it.**”
Al-Dhiab emphasized a teamwork-oriented vision, stating, “**Success does not come alone, but rather through working with the entire group to achieve ambitions and translate them into reality.**” He extended his gratitude to Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, for his invaluable support in the successful bid.
Also appreciative of the support from other Asian federations, Al-Dhiab affirmed that “**his success means Kuwait’s success first and foremost.**”
With an extensive history in the sport’s administration, Al-Dhiab previously served as Vice President of the International Handball Federation and as Treasurer of the Asian Handball Federation, in addition to other key administrative and technical roles.
— Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
