The President of the Qatari Handball Federation, Ahmed Al Shabi, thanked His Excellency Sheikh Al Qaqa bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Al Rayyan Club, and to all members of the club’s Board of Directors, led by Ali bin Saeed Al Khayareen, the spiritual father of Al Rayyan Handball, and to the Executive Director of the tournament, Faisal Al Otaibi, for their great efforts and wonderful organization, as he had previously mentioned. I attended many Asian tournaments, but the organizational level of this tournament, which is hosted by Al Rayyan Club, is considered one of the best tournaments at all levels, whether in terms of the public attendance, which exceeded all expectations, transportation, accommodation, the hall, and the logistical support for the tournament, which is considered of the highest level, and this is not new or strange to me. Al Rayyan Club. He added: I believe that the current version will be one of the strongest and best Asian versions, and this is the testimony of the AFC family.
Regarding the draw that Al Rayyan achieved against Al Shabab Al Shababi, Ahmed Al Shaabi confirmed that Al Rayyan could have exited this match with a full score, but God decreed what He willed, so that in the last seconds the team somewhat lost focus and made mistakes by senior players that cost them a lot, but we say, thank God, that this stumble occurred. It came at the beginning of the journey, and there is still a long way to go to correct the mistakes and make amends in today’s match and qualify for the second round.
The Handball Federation pointed out that the Federation and the clubs are one partner and there is great coordination between the two parties, and all our decisions in organizing tournaments, local competitions, or foreign participation are taken in consultation and understanding for the benefit of Qatari handball in general.
Al-Shaabi extended his sincere thanks to all the clubs for their great confidence in renewing confidence in the Board of Directors and electing him for the next session. This, if anything, indicates great confidence and that we are all in the same boat.
He went on to say: We have many important challenges ahead of us at the level of teams and clubs during the next stage, and despite the lack of support, Qatari handball has still dominated Asian handball for many years, and we hope for concerted efforts with our clubs and officials in the Qatar Olympic Committee headed by His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad. Al Thani and also His Excellency the Minister of Sports and Youth, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, we hope that there will be greater interest in increasing support, God willing, so that we can secure our rise, continue at the top, and achieve better during the next four years.
Al Duhail crosses the Omani Sadab
The Al Duhail team was able to achieve victory in its first match in the 27th Asian Club Handball Championship at the expense of its brother, Ahli Sadab of Oman, with a score of 42-27. Al-Duhail imposed complete control over the match from the beginning after its players ended the first half in their favor with a 10-goal advantage, with a score of 23-13. Then, Al-Duhail players continued their superiority in the second half, ending the second half with a 15-goal lead and a total score of 42-27.
Today, Al-Duhail will play its second match in the tournament when it meets Kazma Al-Kuwaiti. There is no doubt that it will be a strong match, and certainly the Al-Duhail coach has memorized the opponent’s style and the tactics that he will resort to, and that makes him aware and ready for all the possibilities that may occur in the match and deal with them in an objective manner, and he will choose the method. The occasion that ensures a positive result and reduces any danger that may result from the attempts of the opposing team.
Al Rayyan faces an important match against Al Sharjah, UAE
Today, Al Rayyan team will play its second match in the Asian Handball Championship when it meets the Emirati team Sharjah at 6:15 pm at Al Duhail Sports Hall. It is expected that this confrontation will attract a large audience, as it is an important confrontation for both teams, especially for Al Rayyan, which will throw all its weight in order to compensate for the stumble at the beginning of the tournament when it tied with Al-Shabab of Bahrain 29/29. This match will also determine the team’s position in the ranking countries, and it is expected to cast a shadow on the accounts of the coaches of the two teams, as the coach of the Al Rayyan team will try to mobilize all his important weapons for this important confrontation in search of his first victory with the team in this tournament. Al-Manji will rely a lot in the match on the team’s great experience, and it will be His trump cards are represented by the professional, in addition to Kamal al-Din Malash, Al-Dair, Amin Zakkar, Youssef Ben Ali and Dinghir. He also has many trump cards on the bench that he will use when needed, depending on the course of the match and the fluctuations in the result. Al Rayyan prepared well for this match, technically and psychologically
Breaking the crowd attendance record
The opening day of the tournament witnessed a large crowd, with the number of attendees reaching five thousand fans, a record number never witnessed in previous Asian tournaments. The Organizing Committee of the Asian Handball Championship announced that the opening day of the tournament witnessed the setting of a new record in total crowd attendance, with 5,000 spectators attending Al Rayyan’s match with Al Shabab Al Bahraini, which was preceded by the opening ceremony.
D. Ahmed Abu Al-Lail: Qatar is the best from East to West Asia
Dr. Ahmed Abu Al-Lail, Executive Director of the Asian Handball Federation, confirmed that the twenty-seventh edition of the Jewel of the Asian Championships succeeded in surpassing the record through the public attendance and wonderful organization, and this is not strange for Qatar in general. I believe that there is no country in the Asian continent, from the East or from the West, that has the ability to achieve the success achieved by Qatar in organizing any tournament, regardless of its size. Abu Al-Lail said: We are confident from the beginning that this tournament hosted by Al Rayyan Club will take its place as one of the most accessible and interactive editions in the history of the tournament, and that this achievement was achieved thanks to the enthusiastic fans, and the efforts of the organizing committee and the Qatari Handball Federation.
Today’s matches
Four matches will be held today for the third day of the Asian Championship, where the Bahraini Al-Shabab from the first group will meet the Kuwaiti club Al-Kuwait at one o’clock in the afternoon, followed by the Omani Sadab match with the Iranian Mes Kerman “from the second group” at a quarter to three in the afternoon, then it will meet Kuwaiti Kazma. With Al-Duhail, Qatar, at 4:30 p.m., then Sharjah, UAE, with Al-Rayyan, Qatar, at 6:15 p.m.