Youth, Sports Minister Crowns Handball National Team Winners of Olympic Qualifiers

Doha, November 27 (QNA) - HE Minister of Youth and Sports Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali has crowned the Qatari national handball team winners of the Asian qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after beating Iran 28-19 in the final at Duhail Sports Hall on Friday. The Maroon took the first place and golden medals, the Iranians settled for second place and silver medals, while Bahrain came third and landed the bronze medals. HE the minister congratulated HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Qatari people on the qualification of the national team for the Olympics. HE Al Ali hailed the support given to sports and athletes in the era of HH the Emir who was the key reason for the current boom and achievements that established Qatar's status on the international scene. He noted that the achievement of Olympic qualification will be part of the record of Qatari sport milestones on the international front, hailing the spirited performance of the team. "Qatari handball became globally recognized after the recent achievement of winning the second place in the World Handball Championship, which was held in Qatar in January," HE Al Ali said, adding that "qualification for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics adds to the achievements of the team and the technical and administrative staff who prepared it for competitions." The minister also lauded the efforts of Qatar Handball Association (QHA) President Ahmed Mohamed Al Shaabi and QHA board members to help in reaching such a global standing, stressing that Qatari sport has made successful steps in the recent phase in many individual and team sports. ((QNA)