Qatar players celebrate after defeating Iran to book a place in the Asian Handball Championship final yesterday.
Doha: Qatar have been unstoppable at the 2022 Asian Men’s Handball Championship in Saudi Arabia.
The four-time winners and the defending champions produced another spectacular display at the continental event yesterday as they thrashed formidable Iran 34-19 in the semi-final at the Ministry of Sports Hall in Dammam.
With three straight wins in the preliminary stage and as many victories in the main round to their credit, Valero Rivera-coached Qatar entered the semi-final with sheer confidence and dominated their counterparts throughout the match.
The reigning champions led the first half 20-10 before rounding up another commendable win in the tournament.
Qatar, who won consecutive titles in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 will meet Bahrain in the final tomorrow, hoping to equal South Korea’s record of five straight Asian Championship titles.
The South Koreans achieved the feat with their triumphs during the 1983 to 1993 editions.
Bahrain, meanwhile, have also shown phenomenal form in the event as they are only the other side after Qatar to taste a defeat in the 16-team tournament.
In the second semi-final yesterday, Bahrain brought hosts Saudi Arabia’s impressive run to an end with a 29-20 victory.
Saudi Arabia will play against Iran in third position play-off tomorrow.
After trailing 9-16 in the first half, the home team put up a brave show in the final session but was unable to tame an in-form Bahrain, who are yet to win the trophy despite appearing in four finals.
Qatar defeated Bahrain in the 2014, 2016, 2018 edition finals.
Meanwhile, eight-time winners South Korea will be aiming to seal their berth at the 2023 IHF World Men’s Handball Championships when they will take on Iraq in the fifth-position match today.
The top five teams of the Asian Championship will enter the event to be staged jointly by Poland and Sweden. Also today, Uzbekistan and Kuwait will square off in the seventh place play-off.
