Manama, January 25 (QNA) - The Qatari national handball team clinched the title of the 21st Asian Men's Handball Championship after a 30-24 victory over Japan on Thursday in the tournament's final match held in Bahrain. The victory secures Qatar's qualification for the World Championship in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway in 2025.
The victory marks the sixth consecutive title win for the Qatari team, having previously won in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. The Japanese team failed to win the title, which they last won in 1979.
The Qatari team delivered a strong performance deserving of the win, leading the first half with a score of 17-11 before continuing their dominance in the second half and securing the victory.
The Qatari team reached the continental title without any defeats, achieving seven wins and one draw in their journey, confirming their worthiness and eligibility for the Asian Cup.
They topped Group A in the group stage with three victories over Chinese Taipei (33-26), Oman (28-18), and Kuwait (24-20). They also topped Group 1 in the main round, securing two wins against the UAE (25-21) and Iran (27-23) and drawing with Japan (28-28).
In the semifinals, they defeated the Kuwaiti team with a score of 33-26, and in the final match, they overcame the Japanese team with a score of 30-24.
The Qatari team has qualified for the World Championship for the tenth time, following their participations in Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, Egypt 2021, and Poland and Sweden 2023. Their second-place finish in the Qatar 2015 edition remains their best result in their participation history. (QNA)