DAMMAM – Four-time winners Qatar started their Asian Handball Championship title defence in style, easily overpowering Oman 31-14 at the Ministry of Sports Hall in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

The defending champions took a quick 2-0 lead within the first two minutes and then continued to toy with their rivals, until they were 7-2 ahead by the 12th.

Ahmad Madadi, who opened Qatar’s scoring, and Rafael Capote, the engine powering the team, gave them plenty to cheer about. Frankis Carol Marzo, top scorer of the 2021 IHF World Championships in Egypt, was also in fine nick.  

After the blazing start, complacency slowly seeped into the team and Oman took advantage. Once they reached within two goals (6-8), Qatar sensed danger and pulled their game together. Things were soon back on cruise control, with Qatar leading 11-7 by the 25th and 14-7 at half-time.

The Qatari players started the second half right from where they had left off and there was hardly anything Oman could do. With 10 minutes remaining, Qatar were far ahead (26-11) and the writing was on the wall.

Qatar, scheduled to play three matches in as many days, rested their key players in the second half, but even that did not slow them down. With the gulf between the teams ever increasing, the Omani players seemed almost relieved when the final whistle went.