QHA President Confirms Team Qatar's Preparations for 29th IHF Men's World Championship

Doha: President of the Qatar Handball Association (QHA), Ahmed Al Shaabi, announced that Team Qatar’s preparations are well underway for the 29th IHF Men's World Championship, set to take place in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway from January 14 to February 2, 2025.

Speaking to the media, Al Shaabi outlined the team's preparation stages. The first stage included a training camp in Croatia, followed by a second stage in Doha, where the team played three friendly matches—two against Argentina and one against Bahrain. The third stage is scheduled to be held in Slovenia, with Al Shaabi expressing optimism that the preparations will achieve their objectives and have the team fully ready for the global tournament.

Commenting on Qatar’s placement in Group C alongside France, Austria, and Kuwait, Al Shaabi acknowledged the challenges ahead. "We will face strong opponents, starting with France, a team with world-class capabilities and stars. Austria is known for their impressive abilities, and Kuwait has shown significant improvement," he said.

Despite the tough competition, Al Shaabi affirmed that Team Qatar has a clear strategy for the group stage. The team’s primary goal is to qualify for the main round, after which they will adopt a step-by-step approach to progress further in the championship.

Addressing the appointment of head coach Veselin Vujovic, Al Shaabi highlighted the difference in Vujovic’s coaching style compared to his predecessor, Valero Rivera. He noted that the players are adapting to this new approach but emphasized that it is still early to evaluate the results, given the ongoing preparations for the championship.

Al Shaabi also celebrated QHA’s recognition with the Golden Federation Award for Team Sports at the 2024 Sports Excellence Awards, organized by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC). He described the award as a motivator to achieve more and build on Qatari handball's strong legacy.

“Qatar’s handball achievements, including six consecutive Asian Handball Championship titles and three gold medals in successive Asian Games, highlight the nation’s standing in the sport,” Al Shaabi said.

Looking ahead, Al Shaabi revealed plans to further develop national teams in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030. These efforts include introducing fresh talent across all age categories—from youth and juniors to the senior national team—after the conclusion of the World Championship. He added that Qatari clubs are key partners in supporting this vision and enhancing the sport’s development nationwide.

Al Shaabi concluded by affirming the QHA’s commitment to advancing Qatari handball, ensuring it continues to shine on regional and international stages.
 

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