Qatar handball squad's players and officials pose for a group photo ahead of their departure to Egypt yesterday.
Asian champions Qatar are eyeing a winning start at the IHF World Men’s Handball Championship Egypt 2021 campaign as they take on Angola in their opening Group C match in Alexandria, today. Al Annabi left for the event yesterday after their departure was postponed due to lack of flight options.
Although Qatar, coached by Spaniard Valero Rivera, were confined to Doha during their build-up for the 32-nation event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are one of the teams favoured to proceed to the next phase of the competition despite not meeting expectations at the past two World Championships after placing second at Qatar 2015.
The Asian giants will look to bounce back from eighth place at France 2017 and their 13th place two years ago. After meeting Angola, Qatar will face Japan on Sunday before their final group game against Croatia on January 19.
Qatar underwent a training camp in Doha and played several practice matches against top club sides of the country besides featuring in-home tournament against teams including Spain, Tunisia and Argentina.
Al Annabi reached for the World Championship confident knowing they have beaten Croatia and have had tremendous success against Japan in years past including most recently a 36:28 victory at the 2020 AHF Men’s Asian Championship.
But Qatar is still looking for that elusive win against Angola, which could seal the deal for the main round berth. Angola has won both games between the two sides, including a 24:23 nail-biter two years ago, their only win in the group phase, which basically threw Qatar out of contention for the main round berth at the World Championship.
However, Qatar will have both experience and cohesion on their side, with key players playing in Qatar’s skilled domestic competition, with many of them already having played under coach Rivera for the past years
