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Tribune News Network
DOHA
Valero Rivera’s former silver medallists Qatar will launch their new campaign in the IHF World Handball Championship in Copenhagen with a match against Angola on Friday (local time 15.30).
Four years ago, Qatar carved out a rare piece of handball history as they became the first non-European team to play the World Championship final at the Losail Stadium. They had beaten Austria (eighth-finals), Germany (quarter-finals) and Poland (semi-finals).
Al Annabi played well till the half time but France were unstoppable and went on to land the title.
In the 2017 edition in France, Qatar finished eighth after they lost their quarter-final to eventual bronze medallists Slovenia.
This is the sixth year for Qatar’s national coach Velera at Germany/Denmark 2019 after he started the role back in 2013. In 1993 and from 2008-2013 he coached the Spanish men’s team, winning the World Championship at home before moving to Qatar to take the reins of the ambitious Asian side, who were preparing to host their own World Championship, in 2015.
Since taking over, Rivera has made Qatar dominant on the continental stage, winning the Asian Championship in all three editions (2014, 2016 and 2018) as well as the Asian Games in August in Indonesia. The last two continental competitions – Indonesia in August and Korea in January – saw Qatar beat Bahrain in both events, although Indonesia saw the Bahrain side take the Qataris to additional time.
Qatar have been working hard to develop home-grown talent and recent squads have shown the long-term project from Rivera resulting in a mix of home-grown and naturalised players with names including Firas Chaieb, Rasheed Yusuff, Mahmoud Hassaballa, Ahmad Madadi, Kamal Aldin Mallash, Youssef Ali, Moustafa Heiba and Anis Zouaoui included.
To qualify for Germany/Denmark 2019, Qatar finished in the top four of the 2018 Asian Championship in Korea, winning the title thanks to coming back again from a half-time deficit in the final against Bahrain.
Frankis Carol Marzo was named as Most Valuable Player in the final and he led the way for his side, scoring at crucial points in the 60 minutes to finish with eight goals, alongside his teammate, Bertrand Roine, who plays his club handball for Al Ahli SC in Doha.
“There is no doubt that we are the best in Asia,” he continued. “Our third straight title proves it beyond doubt. Winning the Asian title was an ambitious project for us.”
DOHA
Valero Rivera’s former silver medallists Qatar will launch their new campaign in the IHF World Handball Championship in Copenhagen with a match against Angola on Friday (local time 15.30).
Four years ago, Qatar carved out a rare piece of handball history as they became the first non-European team to play the World Championship final at the Losail Stadium. They had beaten Austria (eighth-finals), Germany (quarter-finals) and Poland (semi-finals).
Al Annabi played well till the half time but France were unstoppable and went on to land the title.
In the 2017 edition in France, Qatar finished eighth after they lost their quarter-final to eventual bronze medallists Slovenia.
This is the sixth year for Qatar’s national coach Velera at Germany/Denmark 2019 after he started the role back in 2013. In 1993 and from 2008-2013 he coached the Spanish men’s team, winning the World Championship at home before moving to Qatar to take the reins of the ambitious Asian side, who were preparing to host their own World Championship, in 2015.
Since taking over, Rivera has made Qatar dominant on the continental stage, winning the Asian Championship in all three editions (2014, 2016 and 2018) as well as the Asian Games in August in Indonesia. The last two continental competitions – Indonesia in August and Korea in January – saw Qatar beat Bahrain in both events, although Indonesia saw the Bahrain side take the Qataris to additional time.
Qatar have been working hard to develop home-grown talent and recent squads have shown the long-term project from Rivera resulting in a mix of home-grown and naturalised players with names including Firas Chaieb, Rasheed Yusuff, Mahmoud Hassaballa, Ahmad Madadi, Kamal Aldin Mallash, Youssef Ali, Moustafa Heiba and Anis Zouaoui included.
To qualify for Germany/Denmark 2019, Qatar finished in the top four of the 2018 Asian Championship in Korea, winning the title thanks to coming back again from a half-time deficit in the final against Bahrain.
Frankis Carol Marzo was named as Most Valuable Player in the final and he led the way for his side, scoring at crucial points in the 60 minutes to finish with eight goals, alongside his teammate, Bertrand Roine, who plays his club handball for Al Ahli SC in Doha.
“There is no doubt that we are the best in Asia,” he continued. “Our third straight title proves it beyond doubt. Winning the Asian title was an ambitious project for us.”
