Doha: The Qatar’s handball team delegation arrived to a joyous welcome in Doha on Tuesday after winning the Asian Handball Championship for the fifth consecutive time in Dammam, Saudi Arabia on Monday.
With the title win, Qatar, who also won 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 editions, equaled South Korea’s record of five straight titles in the continental event.
On Tuesday, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary-General H.E. Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain and the Qatar Handball Association (QHA) President Ahmed Al Shaabi led a delegation of sports officials to receive the team at the Hamad International Airport.
The QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain lauded the achievement made by team Qatar stars who claimed the Asian Handball Championship title for the fifth straight time.
Al-Buenain also appreciated the efforts of the Qatar Handball Association which made this achievement possible.
Team Qatar began their campaign in the event with a 31-14 victory over Oman, then they defeated Iraq 37-22 and United Arab Emirates 22-17 to lead their group. In the main round, Qatar topped their Group I after beating Saudi Arabia 34-19 and Uzbekistan 46-15 then South Korea forfeited their final main round match as many of their players were laid low by Covid-19.
In the semifinals, Qatar trounced Iran 34-19 before defeating Bahrain 29-24 in the final match.
Team Qatar also qualified for the World Championship for the ninth time after participating in Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, and Egypt 2021 World Championships.
Qatar had finished as the runners-up in 2015 when the nation played host to the handball showpiece.
Earlier on Monday, hosts Saudi Arabia secured a bronze medal after a 26-23 win over Iran in the third position play-off.
After the Asian Championship, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran and South Korea qualified to the 2023 World Men’s Handball Championships to be staged jointly by Poland and Sweden.
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee