Konya, Turkey – Qatar defeated hosts Turkey 26-23 to clinch their maiden handball gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya on Sunday.
The medal ceremony was attended by the QOC Secretary General H.E Jassim Bin Rashid Al Buenain and the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports H.E Mehmet Kasapoglu.
Qatar, the reigning Asian champions, were unstoppable from the start. Attacking with zeal, they sliced open the Turkish defence repeatedly. They led 14-10 at half-time.
The 2015 IHF world Championships silver medallists also defended in numbers, making things tougher for their European counterparts.
Qatar are the third country to win the handball gold at the Islamic Games. Algeria, in 2005, and Saudi Arabia, at the 2017 edition, are the other teams to have won the title.
On the other hand, Qatar’s women 3×3 basketball team suffered a 20-19 defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia in their first match.
This fifth edition of Islamic Solidarity Games is held from 9th to 18th of August with participation of approximately 6000 athletes from 58 countries.
The state of Qatar is participating in 14 sport disciplines, including basketball, volleyball, handball, cycling, athletics, swimming, shooting, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing and gymnastics.
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee