Qatar Qualify to Second Round of IHF World Men's Youth Championship

Budapest, Hungary, August 16 (QNA) - The Qatari Handball team qualified to the second round of the 2013 IHF World Men's Youth championship after beating Tunisia 22-21 on Friday. On their way to the knock-out stage, Qatar could not prevail against the strong Swedish team on 15 August, but this does not change the great aim of the team from head coach Silvio Ivandija at all: they want to proceed to the knock-out stage at the V Men's Youth World Championship. And their chances are good. They won against Korea and against Slovenia. The victory against the European talents was an unexpected sensation. Now the team is waiting for their "personal final" against Tunisia. "It was clear that we wouldn't have a chance against Sweden", Silivio Ivandija said. "That's why we gave some players a chance to rest." Reaching the round of the best 16 teams would be a huge success for the talents from Qatar. The current success of the Qataris is also the result of good and well-organised preparation. The team has been working together for four months. Even a training camp in Croatia was part of the preparation. And now the talents from Qatar want to take credit for their efforts. But the team does not feel any pressure. All players already play in the mens league and have already played many important games. "But the best is that Tunisia is one of our favourite opponents," added coach Ivandija. So he and his team can more than hope for a good result. And even a draw would be enough to ensure their aim. But even if the eighth-finals cannot be reached, Qatar have proved their good shape in this tournament. At the same time, it was a good publicity for the upcoming Mens Handball World Championship 2015 in Qatar. "The whole country is really looking forward to this event", says the coach. "And that's why people also follow what is happening in Hungary, and our performance here." (QNA)