A Qatari handball player in action during a friendly match in this file photo.
DOHA: Qatar, the Asian Games defending champions in handball, will be looking to begin their campaign in the multi-discipline continental event on a winning note when they take on Malaysia in the Group A match today.
Qatar has an impressive record in handball at the Asian Games and have played the spoil sport to the aspirations of Republic of Korea in the last few editions.
Republic of Korea missed out on the podium of the men’s handball tournament was in Doha in 2006, when it was beaten 40-28 by Qatar in the semifinals and 31-27 by Iran in the third-place play-off.
In the final in 2014, Republic of Korea was again beaten by Qatar: 24-21. That defeat ended a 13-match winning run for Republic of Korea at the Asian Games, starting with their opening fixture of the 2010 Asian Games.
Republic of Korea has won six of the nine gold medals in men’s handball at the Asian Games: five in a row from 1986 to 2002, and in 2010.
In total, Republic of Korea has won eight medals, as it also finished third in 1982 and second in 2014.
If Qatar wins a gold medal, they would join Republic of Korea as only team to win consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games.
The Al Annabi have been performing consistently over the last few years.
They won the last three Asian championships, including earlier this year in Suwon in January.
Qatar also finished second at the world championship in 2015 on home soil, when they lost 25-22 to France. It was the first time an Asian men’s team finished on the podium of the world championship.
The diverse and ambitious team of 222 athletes includes 29 females who will take part in new and exciting sports, everything from shooting to taekwondo.
Qatar will take part in the following disciplines: Archery, Artistic Gymnastics, Athletics, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Boxing, Cycling Track, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Karate, Paragliding, Rowing, Sailing, Squash, Swimming, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline Gymnastics, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
The 2018 Asian Games officials begins at Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on August 18 and will continue till September 2.
