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QHF Chief says Al Anabi will be up to the challenging task
Tribune News Network
Rio de Janeiro
The Qatar handball team, shooter Rashed Saleh and his coach Rashid al Kuwari and members of other disciplines arrived in Rio on Sunday to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The mission also included Ahmed Mohammed al Shaabi, President of the Qatar Handball Federation and team manager Yusuf Mohamed, the players and other members of the coaching staff.
Upon arrival, Ahmed Mohammed said,"We aim to win in the first match against the Croatian team. That will determine our journey in the competition as we aspire to do our best to reach the top. We wish the best for our team."
He added that he was satisfied with what the Anabis did during the preparations where they took on several strong teams and managed to win against a number of favourites. The achievement of the team at the world championship was also well-deserved. He hoped the team woul do its best best at the Olympic Games.
Qatar has been placed in strong group at the Rio Games which includes France (world champions), Croatia, Denmark, Tunisia and Argentina.
The other group includes Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Slovenia and Egypt.
Qatar will face Croatia first up on August 7 and will play the second match against France on August 9. The third match against Tunisia is scheduled for August 11 while Qatar will meet Denmark on August 13. It concludes Anabi group matches against Argentina on 15 of the same month.
The Qatar handball team trained at a preparatory camp where they played several friendly matches with the national teams of Portugal, Poland, Iran and Norway.
Team manager Yusuf Mohamed said that despite being in a difficult group, the Qatar team would be well up to the task.
"We recognise the difficult and onerous task in this group, but we are confident in the ability of our players in this great challenge that features the strongest 12 teams from different continents of the world, and God willing, our players will be up to expectations," he said.
Rashed Saleh and national coach Ahmed Rashid al Kuwari joined the Qatar shooting team participating at the Olympics. Ace shooter Nasser Saleh al Attiyah and the coaching staff for the team had arrived in Rio last week.
Speaking on arrival in Rio, Rashed Saleh said,"I finished the training camp fruitfully in Italy and I aspire to achieve positive results in what is an opportunity to represent my country in the biggest sports event in the world."
Also arriving in Rio were Qatar athletes of other disciplines. Members of track and field events and table tennis and were greeted by sports missions. They included the Qatari delegation head Mohammed Issa Fadala and its members.
On Tuesday, the Qatar national flag will be raised at a ceremony at the Olympic Village at 5 pm local time.
The Qatar contingent of 38 athletes is its biggest ever since their participation in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
