By Fawad Hussain
Doha: In London 2012, they didn’t make it to the court but four years on, Qatar are entering the Rio Games as one of the potential candidates for a podium finish, challenging the European domination in handball in their very first appearance.
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the Qatar Handball Federation (QHF) have put special emphasis on the sport and their endeavour has paid dividends in a very short period of time.
Within three years, the Qatar handball team has made giant strides to become the Asian powerhouse. They clinched gold medal at Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea two years ago and also triumphed in the Asian Championship in January this year.
But the best show from the ‘Al Anabi’ came last year when they stunned the world by reaching the final of World Hanball Championship, only losing to France in the final.
The Frenchmen are the only ones in history who have won back-to-back gold medals in Olympics with London Olympics gold.
Qatar’s recent success has made them favourites to secure a medal at least as many medal projections reveal and this exactly is what the team is targeting.
‘We are targeting a medal in Rio,” said the QHF President Ahmad Mohammad Al Shaabi.
“The team has improved a lot in recent years and they are confident ahead of the important event.”
Al Shaabi said the team was well prepared despite various injury problems in recent months.
“Despite the injury problems, I am satisfied about preparation of the team for Olympics.”
Qatar have been placed in tough Group A that also includes world champions France who are targeting a hat-trick in Rio. Tunisia, France, Denmark, Croatia and Argentina are other teams in the contest.
The Qatar handball chief believed though Qatar’s pool is tough, the team has the potential of defeating any opposition in the world.
“Each competitor has a long history in the game and is determined to do well. We have to fight with full force to fulfill our dream and our team has the potential of doing that,” he said.
For Qatar coach Valero Lopez, a renowned name in the sport, the best ingredient in his team is they play like a unit. “Sometimes we play very good, sometimes we play good, and sometimes we play bad or very bad – but like a team. Always we show that we are a team. For me this is the most important thing. All the players must think that the most important thing is the team,” said the experienced coach.
Qatar’s daily training regime often included two sessions and consists of gym work, running, and practicing tactics in an attempt to prepare athletes holistically.
Qatar will take on Croatia on August 7, a game that will make history as Al Anabi make their Olympic debut.
The Peninsula
