Qatar ready for Asian Handball Championship

Doha, January 14, 2018-The delegation of Qatar national handball team arrived in South Korea on Saturday to participate in the 2018 Asian Handball Championship. The two-time defending champions Qatar are ready to make it a hat-trick of titles in the tournament which starts in Suwon, South Korea on January 18.Qatar, who will open their campaign against debutants New Zealand in Group D also comprising China and Saudi Arabia, will face a tough challenge, said Team Manager Youssef Elmalem.“Our aim is to book a berth at the next World Championship in Denmark and Germany and to win the Asian tournament. But it's not going to be easy," said Youssef Elmalem. “Teams like South Korea and Japan are very strong, but in Valero Rivera we have a top-class coach. We are very satisfied with our preparations. We played six friendly games and won them all. We have don't have any superstars in the team, but all players are ready to fight and that is our strength." He added. The top four teams will qualify for the world championship to be held in January 2019.Qatar, runners-up in the 2015 World Championship which they hosted, were thoroughly impressive in the recent four-nation friendly tournament.They defeated Algeria 40-21, got the better of Iran 33-28 before putting it past Oman 38-18 on Wednesday.

Qatar to face China in AFC U23 Championship

CHANGZHOU, January 14, 2018 – Qatar's Olympic football team will shake hands with hosts China in group A clash of the prestigious AFC U23 Championship on Monday.The Qatari side will conduct its regular training session at 11 am (Doha local time) on Sunday, in preparation for the Monday's clash against the hosts nation.In a total, 16 teams are vying in the prestigious championship aspire to claim the title won by Japan two years ago in Qatar.

Qatar ready to defend Asian Handball title

Doha, January 15, 2018-The Qatari national handball team began their training sessions on Sunday in preparation for the 2018 Asian Handball Championship. The Spanish coach of Qatar Handball team Valero Rivera selected 18 players to participate in the event including; Danijel Saric, Firas Chaieb, Rasheed Yusuff, Rafael Capote, Mahmoud Hassaballa, Abdulrazzaq Murad, Ahmad Madadi, Kamalaldin Mallash, Bertrand Roine, Hassan Mabrouk, Houssem Romane, Aljosa Cudic, Youssef Ali, Jovo Damjanovic, Moustafa Heiba, Anis Zouaoui, Allaedine Berrached and Frankis Marzo.The two-time defending champions Qatar are ready to make it a hat-trick of titles in the tournament which starts in Suwon, South Korea on January 18.Qatar, who will open their campaign against debutants New Zealand in Group D which also comprising China and Saudi Arabia. The top four teams will qualify for the world championship to be held in January 2019.On the other hand, the seventh round of the QHA Cup will be held on Monday, as Al Ahli will take on Al Shammal while Al Rayyan will shake hands with Al Wakrah. Moreover, Al Duhail will meet Al Arabi, and then Al Gharafa will face Al Arabi.

Confident Qatar to take on China in crunch clash today

​Changzhou, January 15, 2018-Head coach Felix Sanchez believes Qatar can strike a significant psychological blow by finishing top of an intriguing Group A at the AFC U23 Championship 2018.Qatar, who were fourth at the tournament’s 2016 edition, have put themselves on the verge of securing a spot in the quarter-finals thanks to solid 1-0 wins over Uzbekistan and then China, results that see them currently occupying first place ahead of the group’s final round of matches.With today’s crunch clash against host nation China looming large on the horizon, Sanchez feels his side could gain a significant boost if things go their way at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center.“To qualify for the next round would be a good achievement, but I think finishing first gives you confidence because you will have finished top of a very tough group,” said the Spaniard.“I believe that in a long competition like this, confidence is important, because over the course of 90 minutes you can be the first or the last team.“If we can now get a result against China, it would give us even more confidence going into our next game (in the quarter-finals).”Despite seeing China beaten by Uzbekistan in their second game of the competition, Sanchez is not about to take the East Asian powerhouse lightly ahead of the key encounter.“We know that China are a very strong team and we will plan well for the match, just as we did for the other two teams in the group.” he explained.“China have shown over the course of their two games, even during their defeat to Uzbekistan, that they have talented players and are very well organised.“We will approach the game as if it was a final.”Massimiliano Maddaloni, meanwhile, is adamant that China will not be adversely affected by their defeat to Uzbekistan on Matchday Two, saying: “As far as we are concerned, we need to reflect on the result of the game against Uzbekistan in a positive manner. “We need to have confidence because we are growing up as a team. “We need to face our next opponents, who are Qatar, in a positive frame of mind.”Elsewhere, Uzbekistan head into their decisive fixture against Oman at the Jiangyin Sports Center knowing that a win would also see them through to the competition’s knockout phase.Following their impressive win over China, a victory that reignited the Central Asian side’s hopes in the wake of an opening day defeat to Qatar, head coach Ravshan Khaydarov is grateful to at least be in with a chance of progressing to the last eight.“The next game against Oman is very important for us,” he explained. “The win against China was very important because of the situation we found ourselves in following the game against Qatar.“I think that every team in this group will now face a battle to qualify, as all four teams still have a real chance to reach the quarter-finals.”With his team yet to gain a point following back-to-back at the hands of China and Qatar, Hamad al-Azani is looking for Oman to shine brightly in what could potentially be their final game at the tournament.“I was disappointed with the last result (against Qatar), and for sure we will try our very best to qualify.“It would be a great pity to go out of the competition without having won any points.”

QOC organizes Sport events for diplomatic missions

DOHA, January 15, 2018 – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) organized a series of sport events and entertainment activities for diplomatic missions members and their families at the QOC winter camp (Al Annah)at Sealine beach on Friday.The prestigious event brought together 450 participants including senior diplomats, staff and their families who representing 26 embassies accredited in the country.The participants from different age groups engaged in a number of entertainment activities and sport events including table tennis, football, basketball, Baby foot, Billiard, Volleyball, equestrian, camel and children theatre.Mr. Mishaal Ibraheem Al Naser, Head of protocol and international relations Office at the QOC appreciated the diplomatic missions participation in this prestigious day which aimed to foster social relations and break the work routine.

Qatar ready to rise to the challenge

Doha, January 13, 2018-Two-time defending champions Qatar are ready to make it a hat-trick of titles in the Asian Handball Championship which starts in Suwon, South Korea on January 18.Qatar, who open their campaign against debutants New Zealand in Group D also comprising China and Saudi Arabia, will face a tough challenge, said Team Manager Youssef Elmalem.The top four teams will qualify for the world championship to be held in January 2019.Qatar, runners-up in the 2015 World Championship which they hosted, were thoroughly impressive in the recent four-nation friendly tournament.They defeated Algeria 40-21, got the better of Iran 33-28 before putting it past Oman 38-18 on Wednesday.Qatar team will leave for South Korea on Saturday.Qatar teamDanijel Saric, Firas Chaieb, Rasheed Yusuff, Rafael Capote, Mahmoud Hassaballa, Abdulrazzaq Murad, Ahmad Madadi, Kamalaldin Mallash, Bertrand Roine, Hassan Mabrouk, Houssem Romane, Aljosa Cudic, Youssef Ali, Jovo Damjanovic, Moustafa Heiba, Anis Zouaoui, Allaedine Berrached, Frankis Marzo.