Dr Jaber Al-Merri, president of the Kuwait Volleyball Association, described the second West Asia Men’s Volleyball Championship as a valuable opportunity for the national team to regain competitive rhythm. The event came after a suspension of sporting activities in Kuwait due to regional developments, Al-Merri told Arab Times. He noted that the squad faced additional obstacles including injuries to several key players yet still entered the tournament determined to challenge for a podium position.
The championship concluded at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, Muscat with Kuwait falling 3-1 to Iraq in the third-place playoff. Host Oman claimed the title by defeating Qatar 3-0 in the final according to official results. Saudi Arabia finished fifth, Syria took sixth place and Lebanon ended in seventh, tournament organisers reported.
Al-Merri expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance even though it missed out on a medal. The president stated that the squad’s objective had been to reach the final and compete for the championship title. He added that the interruption to domestic competition had affected the players’ fitness and match readiness.
Kuwait’s next major assignment will be the Arab Championship scheduled for Jordan in October, Al-Merri said. Remaining fixtures from the 2025-26 domestic season are due to resume in September. The new domestic campaign is set to begin in October according to the association head.
Arab Times reported that the tournament allowed Kuwait to gain necessary competitive exposure after the prolonged halt in local leagues. Al-Merri emphasised the importance of such regional events for maintaining the team’s international readiness. Data from the Asian Volleyball Confederation shows Kuwait has regularly participated in similar continental tournaments to build toward larger events including Asian championships and qualifiers.
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