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Qatar eye top spot in Group A, meet Kuwait on Tuesday
DOHA - Qatar secured their place in the main round of the Asian Men’s Handball Championship 2023 with a resounding 28-18 victory against Oman in Manama, Bahrain. This win follows their triumphant start in Group A, where they defeated Chinese Taipei 33-26 on Friday.
Team Qatar will meet Kuwait today in the final game of the group stage, which will also determine the first and second spot in Group A after both teams secured their places in the main round. As the championship unfolds until January 25, Team Qatar is vying for a spot in the 29th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship, slated for Croatia, Denmark, and Norway in 2025.
In Group A, Qatar are pitted alongside Kuwait, Oman, and Chinese Taipei. The tournament, which features a total of 16 teams divided into four groups, holds high stakes for the participating nations. Group B comprises Iran, South Korea, China, and New Zealand, while Group C features Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India, and Japan.
Group D sees Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Kazakhstan competing for a chance at glory. Qatar are looking to extend their remarkable legacy, having clinched the Asian title in the last five editions (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022).
Additionally, they aim to secure their spot in the World Championship for the 10th time in history, following successful appearances in Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, Egypt 2021, and Poland and Sweden 202
Team Qatar go past Oman in Asian Men Handball Championship
Manama - Team Qatar booked its spot in the main round of the 21st Asian Men Handball Championship 2023, following a convincing 28-18 victory over Oman in a game held in Bahrain’s capital city of Manama on Sunday.
Team Qatar’s Sunday victory against Oman was the second win in a row in their respective group A , after beating Chinese Taipei last Friday 33-26 in this 21st Asian Men Handball Championship , which is taking place until January 25 in Manama.
In the competition that qualifies for the 29th IHF MensHandball World Championship scheduled to be held in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway in 2025, Qatar is placed in Group A along with Kuwait, Oman, and Chinese Taipei.
Group B includes Iran, Republic of Korea, China, and New Zealand, while Group C has Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India and Japan. Group D is made up of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.
Team Qatar swimmers claim two medals in Open Water Event
Doha: Team Qatar swimmers won two medals including one silver medal and one bronze medal at 5km open water event of the Second Arab Aquatics Age Group Championships which will be concluded on Monday.
Mohamed Ismail took the silver medal of boysevent (14-15 years) after finishing the race in 1.09.29 hours behind Rami Rahmouni of Tunisia who claimed the gold medal while Adam Ahmed of Sudan finished third.
Moreover, Qatar's Yousef Ashraf clinched the bronze medal of boys 18-19 event after finishing the race in the third place behind Syria's Usama Tarabulsi and Laith Laqmoush.
The tournament acts as a crucial test event ahead of the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 next month.
Team Qatar Swimmers claim first place at Arab Aquatics Championships
DOHA - Team Qatar swimmers won first place in the Second Arab Aquatics Age Group Championships which began on January 10th in Doha.
The Qatari swimmers claimed 9 medals including 6 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal on the last day of the championships, the Qatari swimming teams tally in the championship reached 38 medals (16 gold, 11 silver, and 11 bronze).
In the water polo competitions, the last days matches resulted in the victory of the Tunisian team over the Qatari team 9/6, and the Saudi team over Algerian team 21/4. The Algerian team also won over the Tunisian team 18/8 and the Saudi team defeated the Qatari team 23/9.
The championship competitions will continue tomorrow with a 5-kilometer open water swimming race.
The tournament acts as a crucial test event ahead of the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 next month.
HH the Amir Inaugurates AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani patronized on Friday evening the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 at Lusail Stadium.
The opening ceremony was attended by HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
Also, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, several Their Excellencies Sheikhs and ministers, and Their Excellencies ambassadors accredited to the State of Qatar attended the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony was also attended by HE President of FIFA Gianni Infantino and HE President of the Asian Football Confederation Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, along with dignitaries from brotherly and friendly countries, heads of delegations, and heads of Arab and foreign Olympic committees and associations, and a huge audience.
The ceremony commenced with artistic and cultural performances, featuring live segments that highlighted the significant literary heritage of Asia, in addition to narrative chapters inspired by the diverse and rich cultures of the participating countries.
Afterwards, HH the Amir witnessed the opening match of the tournament between Qatar's national football team and the brotherly Lebanese team, which ended with team Qatar team winning the opening match 3-0.
Team Qatar aim for a blazing start at Home
Doha: Coach of the Qatari national football team, Spanish Marquez Lopez affirmed that the main goal is to reach the final match in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which is set to kick off Friday in Doha.
Before the opening match against Lebanon at the Lusail Stadium on Friday, Lopez stated in a press conference that the Qatari national team is coming into the competition as the title holders which gives it an important advantage and pushes the team to deliver excellent performance in the match that is held in their homeland and among the fans.
He expressed that the goal of reaching the final should not get the team ahead of itself and focus on the opening match against Lebanon and obtain points that will allow the team to surpass the group stage.
The coach said that they are aware of the opponent's capabilities and have studied them.
He promised that they would bring their best in order to achieve a positive start and for it to be a motivation towards the long and difficult journey.
The Lebanese national team made a change in the technical staff and brought back an experienced coach after he had led it for several years and is familiar with the players, Lopez noted.
The Spanish coach, who took over the role shortly before the start of the Asian Cup Qatar 2023, said that this leaves him with a great challenge but will not be an excuse since he knows all the players due to his presence in the Qatari football scene for many years, notably in Al Wakrah SC.
He explained that he started his work on Dec. 24 and even though this is not enough time, he devoted all efforts with the technical staff to implement his style.
He added that it is important to believe in the players' abilities.
The team's former coaches focused on defense more than attack and Lopez expressed his preference for offense play, high pressure on the opponent's field, and possession and creating opportunities. He also pointed out the necessity of maintaining balance through defense and the courage to apply required fast changes.
The Qatari national team will meet its Lebanese counterpart Friday evening at Lusail Stadium in the opening of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
Qatar is in Group A alongside Lebanon, China and Tajikistan.
Qatar and Lebanon faced each other at the beginning of the competitions of the last edition of the tournament that took place in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 where the Qatari team prevailed with 2-0 and later went on to win the title.
